JOHNA.SEAVERNS 


Webster  Family  Library  of  Vetermary  Medicine 
CurnminQS  School  ot  Veterinary  Medicine  at 
Tutts  University 
200  Westboro  Road 
North  Grafton,  MA  01 536 


SIR    BEDIVERi:. 


KENNEL    SECRETS. 


HOW  TO 


BREED,  EXHIBIT  AND    MANAGE 

DOGS. 


By  "ASHMONT." 


New  edition,  revised. 


BOSTON : 
LITTLE,    BROWN,    AND    COMPANY. 


COPYRIGHT,  1893, 
BY  J.  LORING  THAYER  PUB.  CO. 


COPYRIGHT,  1904, 
3Y  LITTLE,  BROWN,  AND  COMPANY. 


BOSTON 
Alfrbd  Mddge  &  Son  Inc.  Printers 


"  When  some  proud  son  of  man  returns  to  earth, 
Unknown  to  glory,  but  upheld  by  birth, 
The  sculptor's  art  exhausts  the  pomp  of  woe, 
And  storied  urns  record  who  rests  below. 
When  all  is  done,  upon  the  tomb  is  seen, 
Not  what  he  was,  but  what  he  should  have  be«n. 
But  the  poor  dog,  in  life  the  firmest  friend, 
The  first  to  welcome,  foremost  to  defend. 
Whose  honest  heart  is  still  his  master's  own, 
Who  labors,  fights,  lives,  breathes  for  him  alone, 
Unhonor'd  falls,  unnoticed  all  his  worth. 
Denied  in  heaven  the  soul  he  held  on  earth ; 
While  man,  vain  insect !  hopes  to  be  forgiven. 
And  claims  himself  a  sole  exclusive  heaven." 


NOTE. 


The  design  of  this  work  and  the  results  attained  are  so 
evident  a  formal  introduction  is  unnecessary. 

Possibly  the  elementary  character  of  many  of  the  pre- 
cepts given  will  occasion  surprise,  yet  all  must  agree  that 
it  is  over  trifles  that  they  are  likely  to  stumble,  especially 
where  health  is  involved. 

Not  a  few  popular  beliefs  have  been  antagonized,  but 
seldom  other  than  those  which  owe  their  force  to  antiquity 
and  repetition. 

Mystical  speculations  and  ungrounded  theories,  cal- 
culated to  invite  confusion,  have  been  excluded  in  so  far 
as  possible  ;  and  the  measures  advocated  are  such  only  as 
rest  on  bases  proved  sound  by  observation  and  experience. 

Every  important  subject  that  has  engaged  attention  has 
been  fully  discussed,  generalities  being  held  practically 
valueless  and  misleading.  The  simplest  language  has 
also  been  chosen  and  needless  technical  expressions 
excluded,  to  favor  ready  understanding  in  the  least  experi- 
enced. 

Nature's  apparent  methods,  effects  and  requirements 
have  been  dwelt  upon  at  considerable  length  with  a  pur- 
pose of  protecting  the  kennel  from  drugging,  as  far  as 
may  be,  and  displacing  the  common  tendency  to  it  by  reli- 
ance on  hygienic  and  dietetic  agencies. 

It  is  a  pleasing  duty  of  the  author  thus  publicly  to 
acknowledge  his  deep  obligation  to  his  highly  esteemed 


vi  NOTE. 

friend  Mr.  Chas.  H.  Mason,  for  great  kindness,  sterling 
criticisms,  many  valuable  suggestions  and  constant  assist- 
ance in  the  revision  of  the  manuscript,  in  which  has  been 
incorporated  much  that  was  drawn  from  his  vast  fund  of 
experience. 

The  generosity  of  fanciers  in  providing  materials  for 
illustrations  is  also  warmly  acknowledged,  and  it  is 
much  regretted  that  all  photographs  furnished  could  not 
have  been  reproduced  to  appear  herein.  But  the  intent 
being  educational  purely,  manifestly  only  the  best  avail- 
able specimens  of  the  various  breeds  should  be  repre- 
sented. 

Notwithstanding  his  obvious  reluctance  to  observe  the 
time-honored  custom  and  indulge  in  a  preliminary  discus- 
sion of  his  work,  and  his  very  decided  preference  to  leave 
the  reader  to  fashion  his  own  conclusions  as  to  its  merits, 
the  author  is  impelled  to  emphasize  the  exceeding  value 
of  these  illustrations  of  dogs,  being  as  they  are  perfectly 
true  to  life  and  of  subjects  which,  with  only  an  occasional 
exception,  have  reached  the  front  ranks,  while  no  small 
proportion  are  the  nearest  approaches  to  perfection  that 
the  world  has  ever  known.  Consequently  these  faithful 
portraits  must  alone  contribute  much  towards  advance- 
ment to  higher  standards. 


CONTENTS. 


PART  I.— MANAGEMENT. 

CHAPTER   I. 

THE   NATURAL   DIET. 

rAGS 

The  dog  of  to-day.  — Diet  best  suited  to  him.  —  Familiar  faults  in  feed- 
ing. —  Quantity  of  meat  required  daily.  —  Influences  which  modify  it.  — 
Force  of  individual  peculiarities.  — Dangers  of  excess  of  meat.  —  Rela- 
tions between  effects  of  animal  and  vegetable  foods.  —  The  right  pro- 
portions of  the  ingredients  of  a  mixed  diet.  — Allowances  that  should 
be  made  for  existing  circumstances.  —  Distinct  lines  on  which  to  for- 
mulate diet-tables 3 

CHAPTER  H. 

VARIETIES   OF   ANIMAL   FOODS. 

Proportions  of  meat  required  by  puppies.  —  Penalties  for  over-feeding.  — 
Special  value  of  raw  meat.  —  Prejudices  against  it  duly  considered.  — 
Relation  between  an  animal's  disposition  and  his  food.  —  Meat  and 
the  scenting  powers.  —  Important  facts  about  common  foods.  —  When 
horse-flesh  is  wholesome.  —  Milk  in  its  various  forms.  —  Eggs  as  a 
food  and  medicine.  — Their  action  in  health  and  disease.  —  Fish,  how 
it  should  be  cooked  and  served 19 

CHAPTER   III. 

VEGETABLE   FOODS. 

Capabilities  of  dogs'  digestive  powers. — Special  effects  of  vegetables 
on  the  blood.  —  The  various  starchy  foods.  —  Wheat  and  its  products.  — 
Much  about  bread  remnants.  —  Prejudices  against  corn  meal. — The' 
foundations  for  the  same.  —  Right  method  of  use.  —  Oatmeal,  and  it* 

vii 


Vm  CONTENTS. 

PAGB 

peculiar  effects.  —  Rice,  and  its  admirable  qualities.  —  Nutritive  value 
of  barley  and  rye.  — How  starches  should  be  cooked. — The  propor- 
tions of  them  allowable      .........     35 

CHAPTER   IV. 

DIETARY   FOR   PUPPIES. 

The  right  period  for  weaning.  —  Essential  preparatory  steps.  —  Various 
foods  to  be  used.  —  Proper  quantities  of  each.  — Number  of  feedings 
demanded.  — Of  what  each  should  consist,  up  to  the  eighth  month.  — 
The  great  secrets  of  puppy-raising.  —  Means  of  preventing  deformi- 
ties.—  Many  absurd  notions  combated.  —  Ruinous  results  of  over- 
feeding. —  Treatment  of  common  affections  by  dietetic  means      .         .     49 

CHAPTER  V. 

GENERAL   DIETARY. 

The  foods,  quantities,  and  combinations  for  toys.  —  Of  what  each  meal 
should  consist. — Special  directions  for  feeding  the  overweighty. — 
Rules  against  over-feeding.  —  Many  valuable  hints  for  novices.  —  How 
mature  dogs  should  be  fed.  — The  number  of  meals  they  should  have.  — 
Methods  of  preparing  meat.  — Quantities  required  under  various  con- 
ditions of  life.  —  Foods  that  should  be  associated  with  it.  —  Requisite 
proportions  of  each. — Treatment  of  dainty  feeders. — In  total  loss  of 
appetite    ............     65 

CHAPTER   VI. 

KENNELLING. 

The  most  primitive  kennels.  — Their  glaring  defects.  — A  suitable  kennel. 
—  The  best  situation  for  it. — Complete  directions  for  builders. —  Its 
various  furnishings. — Absolute  requisites  to  health. — To  secure  free- 
dom from  vermin. — Method  of  fumigation  by  sulphur.  —  Important 
considerations  in  large  kennels.  —  Precautions  to  be  observed  in  stable 
quarters. — An  efficient  deodorizer      .......     81 

CHAPTER   VII. 

EXERCISE. 

Physiology  of  exercise.  —  Baneful  results  of  too  close  confinement. — 
Yards  for  puppies. — Prime  requisites.  —  Infinite  importance  of  clean- 
liness.—  Yards  for  mature  dogs. — Economy  and  efficiency  duly  con- 


CONTENTS.  ix 

PAGB 

sidered.  —  Devices  for  exercising  in  cities.  —  How  to  estimate  the 
amount  of  work  imperative  for  puppies.  —  For  the  mature.  —  Special 
requirements  for  dogs  in  the  stud        .......     93 

CHAPTER   Vni. 

THE   DRINKING   WATER. 

Dangers  in  foul  water. —  Some  important  physiological  facts.  —  Preva- 
lent theories  that  are  unsound.  —  Symptoms  caused  by  denial  of  suffi- 
cient water.  —  Excess  rarely,  if  ever,  to  be  feared.  —  One  of  the  first 
essentials  in  all  kennels. — Difficulties  in  maintaining  healthfulness 
where  there  are  many  inmates.  —  Water  for  puppies.  —  Its  peculiar 
beneficial  action  on  digestion     ........   109 

CHAPTER   IX. 

WASHING   AND   GROOMING. 

When  frequent  washing  is  imperative.  —  Injurious  effects  of  cheap  soaps. 

—  The  required  articles  of  toilet.  —  General  rules  for  washing.  —  Egg 
shampoos.  —  Necessary  treatment  after  bathing.  —  Remedies  where 
the  coat  is  harsh.  —  Influences  which  greatly  injure  fine  hair.  —  Abso- 
lute essentials  to  its  health.  — When  it  falls  out. — The  common 
causes. — Safe  and  efficient  hair  restorers 1 16 

CHAPTER   X. 

TROUBLESOME   INSECTS. 

Nature  and  habits  of  fleas.  —  Agents  that  are  obnoxious  to  them.  — The 
most  potent  preventive.  —  Powerful  flea-destroyers.  —  Insect  powders. 

—  Tinctures  of  the  same.  —  Cheap  and  potent  solution  of  carbolic  acid. 

—  Real  facts  as  to  flea-soaps  in  general.  — To  afford  relief  from  flies.  — 
Sure  remedies  for  lice.  —  For  the  removal  of  wood-ticks. — Treatment 

of  kennels  when  infested 129 


PART  II.  — EXHIBITING. 

CHAPTER  I. 

PREPARATORY   WORK. 

The  real  danger  of  infection  at  shows.  —  Infinitely  less  than  generally 
supposed.  —  Much  of  interest  about  distemper  and  mange.  —  Amount 
of  work  required.  —  Expedients  where  opportunities  are  limited.  —  Er- 


X  CONTENTS. 

PACK 

roneous  notions  that  are  productive  of  much  harm.  —  How  sporting 
dogs  aie  often  injured.  —  Medicines  commonly  used  for  conditioning. 

—  Serious  results  which  follow  their  use     ......  143 

CHAPTER   H. 

THE   FEEDING. 

Special  requirements  of  common  varieties.  —  The  most  nutritive  and  di- 
gestible foods.  —  Number  of  meals  required  daily. — The  methods  of 
preparation. — Forced  or  spoon  feeding. — The  feeding  of  toys  in 
general.  — An  absurd  notion  dispelled.  —  The  foods  they  should  have. 

—  How  the  same  should  be  cooked.  — At  which  meals  they  should  be 
given. — The  quantities  and  proportions  of  each.  —  Remedies  to  be 
found  in  the  feeding-pan.  — Dietetic  treatment  of  the  overweighty       .   155 

CHAPTER   HI. 

CONDITIONING   THE  COAT. 

When  the  work  of  improvement  should  commence.  —  Character  and 
amount  of  grooming  required.  —  Expedient  to  be  resorted  to  in  ex- 
treme cases.  —  Special  precautions  to  be  observed  in  all  instances.  — 
Where  novices  are  liable  to  be  at  fault. — The  last  wash  before  the 
show.  —  Formula  for  the  best  kennel  soap. — Washing  with  eggs. — 
How  to  wash  a  Yorkshire  terrier.  —  Each  step  in  the  process  fully  de- 
scribed    ............  166 

CHAPTER   IV. 

TO   AND    FROM    THE   SHOW. 

A  suitable  crate.  —  Injunctions  as  to  feeding  while  on  the  cars.  —  A 
mistake  that  has  often  proved  fatal.  — Choosing  a  caretaker.  — Rules 
which  he  should  observe.  —  A  provision  against  mange  and  eczema.  — 
The  return  journey.  —  Precautions  against  the  transmission  of  conta- 
gion. —  Disinfection  after  home  is  reached.  —  Dietetic  restrictions 
that  are  advisable.  — The  only  medicinal  treatment  generally  required.   177 

CHAPTER  V. 

ON    THE    BENCH. 

The  feeding. — When  the  appetite  is  impaired.  —  A  common  custom  to 
be  avoided. — The  first  essential  to  the  maintenance  of  good  condi- 
tion.—  Before  the  judges.  — Ring  etiquette.  — Grave  mistake  of  many 


CONTENTS.  XI 

PAGE 

exhibitors.  — Golden  rule  for  all  to  follow.  —  Hints  for  show  manage- 
ments. —  Delusions  about  disinfectants.  —  Unwarrantable  inflictions 
upon  dogs  and  visitors.  —  Measures  of  relief  advised  .        .         .  185 


PART  III.— BREEDING. 

CHAPTER  I. 

SELECTION   OF   SIRE. 

Methods  of  the  average  breeder. — Glaring  faults  uncovered. — Why 
failures  are  so  common.  —  The  prime  essentials  to  success.  — Lines  on 
which  sires  should  be  chosen.  —  Breeding  sporting  dogs. — Advan- 
tages of  in-breeding.  —  Its  pernicious  effects.  —  Influence  of  the 
previous  sire. — Unsound  theories  combated.  —  Where  misalliance 
occurs,  —  Importance  of  pedigree. —  Many  valuable  hints  for  begfinners 
in  breeding    ...... 197 

CHAPTER   II. 

IN   SEASON. 

Too  early  mating  and  maturity. — Effects  on  the  mother. — On  the  off- 
spring.—  Is  mating  at  the  first  season  justified?  —  The  method  of 
"shaping."  —  Maturing  periods. — Signs  presented  during  the  "  rut- 
ting season."  —  When  to  mate  is  possible.  —  Successful  service. — 
Absolute  essentials  in  both  subjects  of  a  union. —  One  common  cause 
of  great  mortality  among  puppies. — Breeding  at  every  season. — 
Obesity  and  sterility. — When  a  cure  is  possible. — The  treatment 
required. — The  right  condition  for  breeding        .....  214 

CHAPTER  III. 

BEFORE   WHELPING. 

Exercise  during  gestation.  —  Its  infinite  importance.  — Essential  precau- 
tions. —  Signs  of  pregnancy.  —  Some  pronounced  absurdities.  —  Diet 
of  the  bitch  in  pup. — Highly  instructive  experiments. — The  real 
effects  of  raw  meats.  —  Bone-making  materials. — The  one  that 
promises  best.  — The  whelping  quarters.  —  Important  measures  against 

worms. — Bed   and  bedding.  —  Popular    fallacies  regarding  them. 

Abuse  of  cathartics  and  laxative  foods        ......  220 


XU  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  IV. 

TREATMENT   OF   THE   MOTHER. 

PAGB 

First  signs  of  whelping.  —  Companionship  advocated.  —  Puerperal 
mania.  —  Hints  for  attendants.  —  Danger  to  puppies  from  crushing.  — 
Measures  of  prevention. — Temperature  of  the  whelping  quarters. — 
Phenomena  of  labor.  —  After  treatment  of  the  mother. — Of  the  pup- 
pies.—  The  puppy-eating  habit.  — The  various  influences  which  cause 
it.  — The  remedy  required  in  most  cases.  — Diet  after  whelping.  — Of 
what  each  meal  should  consist. — Constant  liberty  for  the  nursing 
mother 243 

CHAPTER   V. 

CARE  OF  THE   NEW-BORN. 

The  favorable  season  for  whelping.  —  Degrees  of  heat  required  by 
puppies. — Fatal  faults  emphasized. — When  the  milk  secretion  is 
scanty.  —  Milk  fever.  —  Foster  mothers.  —  Considerations  in  making 
selections.  —  Nourishing  artificially.  —  By  various  animals.  — Weeding 
out  litters.  —  When  suffocated  by  the  mother.  —  Impediments  to 
nursing.  —  Remedies  for  sore  breasts.  —  Poisoning  by  the  mother's 
milk.  — How  it  maybe  detected. — Treatment  of  the  mother. — Of 
the  puppies       ...........  260 

CHAPTER   VI. 

EARLIEST    PUPPYHOOD. 

Infinite  importance  of  warmth.  — A  cause  of  many  failures  in  breeding. 
— Ill  effects  resulting  from  sleeping-boxes.  —  Measures  for  the  re- 
moval of  vermin. — Treatment  of  colic. — Hygiene  of  the  puppy 
quarters.  —  Poisons  generated  in  milk. — Grooming  and  washing. — 
Prevention  of  deformities. — Golden  rules  for  fanciers. — Worthless 
puppies.  —  The  destroyer  to  be  used. — Cautions  against  over-stock- 
ing.—  Notions  about  teething. — Operation  of  docking. — The  re- 
moval of  dew  claws  .........  281 

CHAPTER  VII. 

TRAINING. 

Earliest  education  of  puppies.  —  House-breaking.  —  Introduction  to  new 
homes. — Qualities  essential  in  the  educator. — Right  methods  of  re- 
straint and  correction. — Perversity  and  self-will.  —  Power  of  kind- 


CONTENTS.  xin 

PAGB 

ness.  — Some  very  annoying  habits.  — The  use  of  the  whip.  — Happy 
effect  of  association. — Training  of  watchers.  —  A  dangerous  method. 

—  The  right  way.  —  Retrieving  and  its  advantages     ....  304 

CHAPTER   Vni. 

INTESTINAL   PARASITES. 

The  course  of  infection. — The  most  potent  means  of  prevention. — 
Symptoms  of  worms.  —  Peculiar  action  of  the  pests.  —  How  they 
cause  death.  —  Post-mortem  appearances. — Treatment  of  nursing 
puppies.  —  After  the  weaning. — Dangers  in  anthelmintics.  —  Much 
of  interest  about  santonin.  — The  first  mixture  to  be  used.  — A  stronger 
preparation.  — Definite  rules  for  estimating  doses.  —  Relief  in  desper- 
ate cases 314 

CHAPTER  IX. 

POTENT   WORM-DESTROYERS. 

Directions  for  treatment  of  toys. — Areca  nut.  —  Its  peculiar  action.— 
Safety  lines.  —  Rule  for  adjusting  doses.  —  Best  methods  of  adminis- 
tration. —  Remedy  for  tape-worm.  — General  treatment  for  worms. — 
A   shot-gun  mixture. — Its  preparation.  —  Influence  of  diet  on  worms. 

—  Preventive  measures. — Liability  of  infection  in  kennels.  — Precau- 
tions which  should  be  applied    .         . 33 1 


PART  I 


MANAGEMENT. 


t      ^?         fihrnJl 


iiilftlfe 


KENNEL    SECRETS. 


CHAPTER   I. 


THE    NATURAL    DIET. 

Men  differ  as  to  the  origin  of  the  dog,  but  all  agree 
that  he  is  of  the  family  of  carnivora  and  that  he  was  a 
fiesh-eating  beast  in  his  wild  state.  Admitting  this  em- 
inently plausible  theory  the  question  at  once  arises,  Has 
domestication  created  or  developed  in  him  the  power, 
which  his  master  possesses  in  an  eminent  degree,  of 
accommodating  himself  to  changes  of  foods  as  to  other 
altered  conditions  and  thereby  rendered  him  capable  of 
subsisting  quite  as  well  on  a  mixed  diet,  of  vegetable 
and  animal  substances,  as  he  once  did  on  a  diet  exclu- 
sively animal  .-*  Scientific  reasoning  and  experience 
answer  in  the  affirmative  ;  yet  this  solution  is  not  uni- 
versally accepted,  and  there  are  many  who,  arguing 
mainly  from  structural  peculiarities,  insist  that  he  is 
purely  a  flesh-eater  still  and  that  animal  foods  alone  arc 
suited  to  his  requirements. 

3 


4  KENNEL  SECRETS. 

The  evidence  to  sustain  this  argument,  which  appears 
on  anatomical  investigation,  merely  shows  that  he  is  and 
has  been  fitted  for  flesh  eating.  And  admitting  him  to 
be  physically  so  constituted  as  to  be  able  to  derive  from 
an  exclusively  animal  diet  all  that  is  necessary  to  his 
support  and  health,  he  can  scarcely  be  regarded  now  as 
other  than  omnivorous,  or  in  other  words  as  capable 
of  subsisting  on  a  varied  diet  made  up  of  vegetable 
and  animal  substances,  as  on  one  entirely  animal. 

Many  centuries  have  passed  since  he  was  redeemed, 
and  in  all  these  he  has  been  the  companion  and  friend  of 
man.  Sharing  as  he  has  the  mixed  diet  of  his  master  he 
surely  must  have  felt  the  force  of  habit,  to  which  no 
animal  can  be  insensible,  and  acquired  at  least  a  tolerance 
for  vegetable  foods  if  not  an  actual  need  of  them.  It  is 
by  virtue  of  this  force  that  man  becomes  so  truly  om- 
nivorous ;  and  that  inferior  animals  can  do  the  same 
abundant  evidence  has  been  offered  in  the  results  of 
experiments,  which  have  shown  that  in  respect  to  food 
changes  in  their  nature  have  been  effected  and  even 
hereditary  forms  of  body  suited  to  the  altered  conditions 
induced  and  perpetuated.  Cats,  for  instance,  have  accom- 
modated themselves  to  a  mixed  diet  and  become  similar 
in  form  to  the  herbivorous  or  vegetable-eating  animals  by 
considerable  increase  in  length  of  their  bowels  over  other 
members  of  their  family  yet  untamed. 

It  is  certainly  not  reasonable  to  suppose  that  this  power 
to  accommodate  to  altered  conditions  in  the  matter  of  diet 
and  to  assimilate  their  forms  is  denied  all  animals  but  cats. 
Far  from  it,  it  is  easier  to  believe  that  it  can  be  acquired 
by  all  v;arm-blood  animals,  and  that  many  of  them  that 
are  now  either  purely  flesh-eaters  or  vegetable-eaters 
would  become  omnivorous  had  they  wits  to  aid  them 
or  were  they  educated  up  to  the  changes. 


j--'.«E?Wr:-  -sraMep :; 


THE  NATURAL  DIET.  5 

Contrast  the  primeval  condition  of  the  dog  with  that 
to-day.  Once  he  provided  for  himself,  and  the  tremen- 
dous amount  of  exercise  he  was  forced  to  take  while 
searching  for  food  gave  him  not  only  a  voracious  appetite 
but  powers  of  digestion  equal  to  any  burden  he  could  put 
upon  them.  Now  he  is  fed  regularly  and  given  some  exer- 
cise but  not  nearly  the  amount  he  had  in  his  wild  state. 
Surely  he  of  to-day  cannot  have  the  high  health  and  vigor 
of  his  ancestors,  nor  can  his  digestive  and  excretory  organs 
bear  as  heavy  burdens  as  theirs  were  wont  safely  to  bear. 
As  a  matter  of  fact  allow  the  average  dog  of  these  times 
to  gorge  himself  with  flesh  as  his  kind  were  accustomed 
to  do  of  old,  and  indigestion,  if  not  a  severer  penalty, 
would  be  exacted  for  even  a  single  indulgence. 

When  speculating  as  to  the  proper  diet  of  mankind  it  is 
quite  the  rule  to  insist  that  the  stomach  recognizes  its  own 
wants  and  the  appetite  is  a  perfectly  safe  guide. 

This  is  true  now  neither  of  the  human  nor  canine  race, 
although  it  doubtless  was  so  when  those  races  were  created, 
but  since  then  they  have  been  exposed  to  influences  which 
in  time  perverted  their  appetites,  until  they  could  not  be 
any  longer  relied  upon  as  infallible  guides. 

Consider  the  appetite  of  man.  There  are  many  articles 
of  food  popular  with  him  now  which  were  really  nauseating 
to  him  at  first,  and  he  literally  was  obliged  to  learn  to  like 
them ;  and  once  he  did  so,  he  thereafter  longed  for  them 
quite  as  intensely  as  for  the  foods  for  which  he  had  a 
natural  craving.  "Gamey"  meats,  clams,  lobsters,  and 
various  vegetables  are  among  the  foods  which  to  many  were 
distasteful  at  first.  Tobacco  is  even  a  better  illustration  of 
this  acquired  taste. 

Indeed,  nature  is  most  indulgent  and  ever  ready  to  mod- 
ify her  laws  and  requirements  to  conform  to  adverse  condi- 
tions in    man.     Likewise   with    dogs,   let    one  be   denied 


■6  KENNEL    SECRETS. 

animal  food,  or  the  quantity  allowed  be  only  very  small, 
but  there  be  vegetable  foods  in  abundance,  then  with  the 
latter  she  will  endeavor  to  make  him  content,  and  pos- 
sibly thrive  on  them  as  he  would  on  animal  foods. 

But  to  enter  into  a  discussion  of  this  question  is  not  at 
all  necessary.  The  dog  can  safely  be  regarded  as  capable 
of  digesting  and  assimilating  vegetable  as  well  as  animal 
foods.  Furthermore,  a  mixed  diet  now  unquestionably 
best  meets  his  requirements. 

Doubtless,  it  is  universally  admitted  that  animal  food  is 
absolutely  necessary  to  the  dog ;  and  it  must  generally  be 
accepted  that  a  varied  or  mixed  diet  is  best  suited  to  him  ; 
a  fairly  good  idea  of  the  different  substances  which  should 
make  up  this  diet  also  prevails  ;  but  beyond  this  the  ma- 
jority of  owners  are  sadly  wanting.  About  the  required 
proportion  of  the  various  ingredients  they  know  little  or 
nothing,  and  are  singularly  prone  to  be  highly  generous 
in  the  use  of  vegetable  foods  and  sparing  of  animal  food, 
whereas  it  should  often  be  the  reverse.  They  are  apt, 
also,  to  lose  sight  of  the  great  difference  in  relation  to 
%oth  quantity  and  quality  which  habits  of  life  demand, 
i.e.  between  the  habits  of  those  that  are  worked  hard, 
as  in  the  field,  and  those  living  lazy,  luxurious  lives, 
as  house  pets  and  watchers.  They  moreover  make  small 
account  of  the  different  requirements  by  the  puppy  and 
the  mature  dog  ;  and  seem  to  be  still  less  mindful  of 
the  fact  that  marked  individual  peculiarities  frequently 
exist.  Again,  very  many  of  them  appear  indifferent  on 
the  matter  of  cooking,  which  oftener  than  otherwise  is 
imperfect,  and  in  consequence  the  foods  so  treated  not 
only  fail  of  their  purpose,  but,  acting  as  irritants,  cause 
indigestion  and  other  disturbances.  Finally,  with  no 
small  proportion  of  them  combinations  of  the  different 
foods  are  mere  questions  of  convenience,  they  holding  to 


THE  NATURAL   DIET.  J 

the  notion  that  the  all-important  essential  is  quantity,, 
and,  food  being  food  always,  quality  is  a  trivial  matter. 
These  are  some  of  the  most  noticeable  faults  which  appear 
in  the  practices  of  breeders  of  to-day,  and  in  the  face  of 
them  it  is  not  surprising  that  failures  are  so  frequent  and 
such  a  large  proportion  of  dogs  are  so  often  out  of  condi- 
tion if  not  the  victims  of  disease. 

The  first  point  of  essential  interest  and  importance  to* 
be  considered  is  the  proportion  which  the  several  ingre- 
dients of  the  mixed  diet  should  bear  to  one  another. 
Unfortunately  no  rule  which  will  admit  of  wide  applica- 
tion can  be  fixed  here,  for  the  requirements  are  influenced 
by  the  age,  amount  of  exercise,  condition  of  health, 
seasons  of  the  year,  individual  peculiarities,  etc.  A 
puppy,  young  and  growing,  needs  in  proportion  a  more 
generous  quantity  of  animal  food  —  milk  or  meat  — 
for  muscle  and  bone  building  than  he  will  after  he  has 
matured  and  his  structure  is  complete.  During  the  hunt- 
ing season  and  while  his  muscles  are  being  constantly 
drained  as  it  were  by  his  work  a  dog  can  not  only  assimi- 
late more  meat,  but  actually  requires  a  much  larger  pro- 
portion, than  he  that  is  kept  much  of  the  time  on  the  chain 
and  allowed  but  little  exercise.  This  important  fact  can 
perhaps  be  given  greater  prominence  by  the  assurance' 
that  an  excessive  indulgence  in  meat  has  much  the  same 
effect  upon  dogs  as  upon  members  of  the  human  family  ]• 
and  surely  no  one  will  gainsay  that  while  men  who  work- 
hard,  as  with  the  pick  and  shovel,  can  eat  freely  of  meat 
twice  and  three  times  daily  and  be  none  the  worse  for  it, 
were  students,  book-keepers,  or  others  of  sedentary  occupa- 
tions, to  attempt  such  a  diet,  in  a  short  time  they  must 
become  dyspeptic,  bilious,  and  otherwise  disordered. 

In  estimating  the  daily  quantity  of  meat  some  modifica- 
tion is  allowable  and  often  demanded   according  to  the 


8  KENNEL  SECRETS. 

physical  condition.  Considering  the  fact  that  this  food 
tends  to  produce  firmness  of  muscle  with  an  absence  of 
superfluous  fat,  while  vegetable  food  on  the  other  hand 
tends  to  increase  the  deposition  of  fat,  manifestly  in  many 
instances  of  underweight  it  is  advisable  to  give  less  meat 
and  more  vegetable  food.  In  some  instances,  also,  the 
requirements  are  the  reverse  of  these,  and,  as  always  with 
bitches  that  are  too  fat,  it  is  necessary  to  feed  largely  if 
not  entirely  on  meat  until  good  form  is  restored. 

This,  by  the  way,  bears  specially  on  bitches  that  are  not 
in-pup.  And  yet  such  treatment  would  be  safe  for  those 
that  were,  provided  with  them  the  increase  in  the  amount 
of  meat  was  made  gradually  and  there  was  a  corresponding 
gradual  increase  in  the  amount  of  exercise.  But  lest  the 
reader  draw  wrong  conclusions  here  it  is  urged  that 
assuming  the  bitch  to  be  one  that  had  been  accustomed 
to  a  diet  consisting  of  about  one-third  meat,  to  put  her 
on  to  all  meat  while  she  was  in  whelp  would  be  hazardous 
were  she  afterward  given  the  same  amount  of  exercise 
which  she  had  been  having  and  no  more.  Furthermore, 
during  gestation  a  bitch  could  not  safely  bear  the  amount 
of  work  that  a  dog  fed  entirely  on  meat  must  have  had  she 
been  given  but  an  average  amount  of  exercise  up  to  that 
period. 

In  estimating  the  daily  quantity  of  meat  an  allowance 
must  be  made  for  the  season  of  the  year,  since  the  diges- 
tive and  all  other  functions  of  the  body  vary  under  the 
influence  of  cold  and  heat  — the  former  stimulating  them 
and  the  latter  depressing  them.  And  manifestly  were  these 
variations  ignored  and  the  same  quantity  of  meat  given  daily 
all  the  year  around,  diarrhoea  and  other  disturbances  of  the 
digestive  organs  would  be  likely  to  occur  in  hot  weather  ; 
moreover,  the  tendency  to  skin  diseases  attended  with 
intolerable   itching  would  then   be  decidedly  greater,   in 


THE  NATURAL   DIET.  9 

consequence  of  the  system  being  clogged  with  impuri- 
ties, which  are  inevitable  where  the  excretory  organs  are 
unnecessarily  taxed,  as  they  always  are  when  too  much 
animal  food  has  been  taken  into  the  stomach. 

Possessing  as  they  do  the  power  of  accommodating 
themselves  to  changes  in  diet,  quite  pronounced  indi- 
vidual peculiarities  in  relation  to  tolerance  of  certain 
foods  must  often  be  encountered  in  dogs,  and  these 
must  be  considered  in  estimating  the  quantity  of  meat 
required. 

For  instance,  toy  terriers  cannot  bear  much  meat 
because  they  are  peculiarly  susceptible  to  its  stimulat- 
ing effect  and  are  quickly  and  seriously  disturbed  by  an 
excess ;  the  results  of  which  are  an  impairment  of  the 
integrity  of  the  blood,  a  feverish  condition  of  the  system, 
skin  eruptions  and  falling  off  in  coat. 

Again,  there  are  physiological  drains  upon  the  constitu- 
tion, such  as  that  felt  by  the  nursing  mother  or  by  the  dog 
much  used  in  the  stud,  and  unusual  demands  upon  it,  as 
in  sickness,  which  have  to  be  provided  for  by  an  increase 
of  the  daily  quantity  of  meat. 

It  must  be  remembered,  also,  that  in  many  morbid  con- 
ditions this  food  must  be  almost  wholly  relied  upon,  not 
alone  because  there  is  a  decided  repugnance  for  nearly  all 
other  foods  but  because  this  is  the  only  one  that  languid 
digestion  can  readily  dispose  of. 

Meat  produces  a  greater  feeling  of  satiety  than  any 
other  food  and  forms  a  greater  stay  to  the  stomach  because 
that  organ  is  the  seat  of  digestion  and  is  occupied  by  it 
for  a  longer  time.  And  this  fact  has  a  bearing  on  the 
question  of  quantity,  for  obviously  a  dog  fed  once  a  day 
only  can  dispose  of  and  more  than  likely  requires  a  greater 
quantity  of  meat  daily  than  another  given  two  or  three 
meals  each  day. 


10  KENNEL  SECRETS. 

It  is  plainly  evident  from  this  that  dogs  cannot  be  fed 
by  rule,  and  that  the  proportions  of  ingredients  of  their 
diet  must  be  intelligently  estimated  and  varied  according 
to  existing  circumstances. 

Before  going  further  it  will  be  well  to  compare  briefly 
the  relations  and  effects  of  animal  and  vegetable  foods. 
The  former  are  identical  in  composition  with  the  struc- 
tures to  be  built  up  and  kept  in  repair.  On  the  other 
hand,  although  no  such  identity  appears  in  vegetable 
foods,  yet  to  a  marked  extent  they  agree  in  composition 
with  animal  foods,  and  all  that  is  necessary  for  the  human 
body  at  least  can  be  supplied  by  the  vegetable  kingdom 
solely.  But  the  process  required  for  the  digestion  of 
vegetable  foods  is  more  complex  than  that  required  for 
animal  foods,  and  while  the  digestive  apparatus  of  man, 
built  upon  a  more  extended  scale,  can  properly  dispose  of 
both  kinds  of  foods  with  nearly  if  not  quite  equal  ease, 
owing  to  its  much  simpler  construction  that  of  the  dog  is 
better  adapted  to  animal  than  to  vegetable  foods  ;  and 
although  it  can  successfully  deal  with  the  latter  its  capa- 
bilities in  this  direction  are  narrower  than  those  of  the 
digestive  apparatus  of  man. 

In  other  words  the  dog  is  so  constituted  physically  that 
he  can  digest  both  animal  and  vegetable  foods,  and  from 
them  when  in  correct  proportions  he  will  obtain  all  the 
nutritive  principles  required  for  the  growth  of  his  body 
and  to  replace  the  wear  and  tear  upon  its  tissues.  But 
although  vegetable  foods  may  contain  all  that  he  requires 
for  these  purposes,  such  is  the  peculiar  construction  of  his 
digestive  apparatus,  unlike  his  master,  it  would  scarcely 
be  possible  for  him  while  under  ordinary  conditions  to 
subsist  on  them  alone,  being  unable  to  extract  from  them 
goodly  proportions  of  their  nutritive  properties.  Conse- 
quently, while  it  is  perfectly  proper  to  give  him  vegetable 


THE  NATURAL  DIET.  II 

foods  he  should  have  animal  foods  as  well,  for  were  he 
deprived  of  them  he  would  be  likely  in  time  to  lose  health 
and  vigor. 

While  the  proportions  of  the  animal  and  vegetable 
ingredients  of  the  diet  cannot  be  fixed  to  suit  all  cases 
because  of  the  many  elements  of  variation,  it  can  safely 
be  said  that  where  the  former  is  meat  one-third  is  about 
the  right  proportion  for  dogs  in  general  that  are  not  in 
training  or  being  hard  worked  in  the  field. 

This  estimate  is  based  on  "  solid  "  meat  and  without 
regard  to  the  water  in  which  it  is  cooked,  for  that  —  the 
broth  —  is  scarcely  more  than  stimulating  and  only  slightly 
nutritious  ;  yet  it  contains  some  important  elements  and 
should  never  be  thrown  away,  but  always  used  to  soften 
the  bread  or  other  starchy  food  and  returned  to  the 
meat. 

Now,  in  order  to  pass  this  point  and  reach  a  closer 
estimate  one  must  be  guided  entirely  by  the  existing  cir- 
cumstances, and  weigh  in  every  instance  the  individual 
peculiarities,  the  conditions  present,  etc.,  etc.  And  what 
is  of  great  importance  he  must  duly  consider  the  amount 
of  exercise  allowed,  and  accept  without  qualifications  the 
rule  that,  within  limits  of  course,  the  less  exercise  the  less 
meat. 

For  instance,  a  man  has  a  number  of  dogs  that  he  cares 
for  himself,  but  he  cannot  devote  much  time  to  them 
because  he  is  at  business  during  the  day,  and  while 
absent  they  must  be  confined  to  the  kennels.  He  is 
accustomed  to  let  them  out  every  morning  and  evening 
and  allow  them  to  scamper  off  into  the  fields  for  perhaps 
fifteen  minutes,  but  rarely  for  a  longer  time,  and  this  is 
about  all  the  exercise  they  have  except  what  they  make 
for  themselves  in  their  yards  or  runs.  The  proportion  of 
meat  for  them  should  be  about  one-fifth. 


12  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

But  supposing  that  this  same  man  besides  allowing  his 
dogs  their  short  morning  and  evening  romps  took  them 
out  every  day  for  a  sharp  walk  of  half  an  hour.  Then  he 
could  properly  give  them  about  one-fourth  meat. 

Assuming  again  that  he  is  less  devoted  to  busi- 
ness, has  much  leisure  and  contemplates  working  his 
dogs,  and  besides  their  short  outings  mornings  and 
nights  he  has  them  out  for  an  hour  every  day,  during 
which  time  they  cover  a  good  bit  of  ground,  he  would 
then  need  to  increase  the  quantity  of  meat  and  make  the 
proportion  about  one-third,  or  perhaps  a  trifle  over  this. 

Or  if  it  was  his  custom,  besides  letting  them  out  for  a 
few  minutes'  frolic  every  morning  and  night,  to  give  them 
a  long  walk  on  chain  every  day,  or  slow  work  behind  a 
horse  for  twenty  or  more  miles,  his  dogs  might  have  nearly 
three-fourths  meat. 

While  were  they  greyhounds  and  he  had  them  in  train- 
ing, or  hounds  that  he  was  working  hard  in  the  chase,  or 
pointers,  setters,  or  the  like,  that  were  doing  almost  daily 
hard  work  afield,  they  might  have  a  diet  consisting  entirely 
of  meat. 

In  a  word,  it  is  safe  to  assume  that  the  more  exercise  a 
dog  has  the  more  meat  he  will  digest  readily  and  properly 
dispose  of  without  ill  effects. 

Apropos  of  this,  some  trainers  of  greyhounds  feed  with 
a  large  proportion  of  farinaceous  foods  and  claim  a  good 
showing,  but,  as  one  writer  has  in  substance  said,  this  is 
not  decisive,  and  even  better  results  might  possibly  have 
been  attained  had  an  all-meat  diet  been  given. 

There  are  breeders  also  who  contend  that  more  than 
one-third  meat  is  demanded  by  all  dogs,  whether  or  not 
they  are  closely  confined  or  being  trained,  or  hard  worked 
afield,  while  nearly  as  many  insist  that  dogs  on  an  average 
find  ample  support  in  a  diet  composed  of  six,  eight,  or 


THE  NATURAL   DIET.  13 

even  a  greater  number  of  parts  of  vegetable  foods  to  one 
of  flesh. 

At  this  point  it  is  well  to  remind  the  reader  who  is  at 
either  extreme  that  circumstantial  evidence  is  by  no  means 
always  conclusive.  Also,  that  no  two  breeds,  nor  even 
two  members  of  the  same  breed,  are  so  constituted  that 
the  food  suitable  for  one  is  precisely  as  suitable  for  the 
other. 

Now  it  is  an  indisputable  fact  that  some  breeders  feed 
very  largely  on  meat  and  their  dogs  do  well.  Not  unnat- 
urally therefore  they  believe  it  to  be  the  all-important 
food.  On  the  other  hand  there  are  some  who  rely  almost 
wholly  on  vegetables  and  starches,  and  they  in  turn  are  as 
strongly  convinced  that  their  diet  is  the  only  appropriate 
one  for  all  dogs. 

A  novice  accepts  the  theory  of  the  first  and  feeds  on 
flesh,  but  he  does  not  meet  with  the  success  which  he 
anticipated,  and  his  dogs  go  wrong  in  the  course  of  a  few 
weeks  and  eventually  become  wrecks.  Another  tries  the 
other  theory,  and  with  much  the  same  ending  —  his  dogs 
in  time  going  to  pieces. 

The  result  of  these  unfortunate  experiments  would  at 
first  thought  seem  positive  evidence  that  both  theories 
were  absolutely  wrong,  yet  literally  they  proved  merely 
that  the  diets  employed  were  unsuited  to  the  victims 
under  the  existing  conditions.  But  had  these  dogs  been 
placed  under  precisely  the  same  conditions  as  those  of  the 
breeders  whose  radical  views  were  accepted,  then  the 
results  would  undoubtedly  have  been  different,  and  very 
likely  each  novice  would  have  become  an  ardent  advo- 
cate of  the  theory  he  adopted. 

The  fact  is,  there  are  many  other  influences  which  bear 
quite  as  heavily  for  or  against  the  health  of  dogs  as  the 
dietetic,  and  one  rightly  fed  may  go  wrong  because  of  insuf- 


14  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

ficient  exercise,  improper  cooking,  damp,  draughty  quar- 
ters, neglect  of  cleanliness,  foul  drinking  water,  etc., 
while  another  fed  indifferently,  on  food  poorly  suited  to 
his  wants,  may  yet  remain  in  good  health  under  kindly 
hygienic  influences. 

Equally  as  correct  conclusions  regarding  the  potency  of 
these  influences  can  be  drawn  from  the  experiences  of 
men,  for  they  act  upon  them  as  on  dogs.  Sailors,  for 
instance,  on  fairly  long  voyages  are  forced  to  subsist 
largely  on  beef  and  pork  which  are  submitted  to  methods 
of  curing  that  render  them  so  indigestible  the  nutritive 
properties  retained  are  in  such  form  that  a  goodly  pro- 
portion can  be  extracted  only  with  exceeding  difficulty. 
These  meats,  with  biscuits  —  very  often  "weevilly"  — 
and  canned  goods  for  only  rare  change,  make  up  the  most 
of  their  bill  of  fare.  Yet  where  can  be  found  a  healthier, 
hardier  class  than  this  —  and  all  due  to  the  pure  air  they 
are  in  and  the  hard  work  they  are  required  to  perform. 
But  put  these  same  men  on  shore  in  close-built  cities  or 
towns,  let  them  live  indolently  and  on  the  same  kinds  of 
food  they  had  on  shipboard,  and  they  must  soon  decline 
in  health  and  vigor. 

On  this  subject  man  is  singularly  inclined  to  jump  at 
conclusions.  One  calls  attention  to  the  fact  that  he  is  of 
a  family  of  giants  and  that  neither  he  nor  any  other  mem- 
ber of  it  had  scarcely  any  meat  during  childhood.  He 
sees  the  city  youngsters  of  to-day  fed  on  mixed  diet  con- 
taining a  large  proportion  of  meat,  and  from  this  he  rea- 
sons that  their  undergrowth  and  washed-out  appearance 
are  due  to  the  meat.  Yet  he  fails  to  realize  that  in  his 
early  years  he  doubtless  consumed  in  the  form  of  milk  and 
eggs  nearly  if  not  quite  as  much  animal  food  as  they,  and 
that  in  consequence  of  their  peculiar  situation  in  life  these 
foods  in  fresh  and  pure  state,  and  in  abundance,  are  gen-^ 


THE  NATURAL   DIET.  15 

erally  denied  them,  and  meat  is  therefore  substituted.  He 
forgets,  also,  that  he  lived  under  very  different  hygienic 
conditions  from  theirs  —  he  in  the  open  country  and  in 
pure  air,  while  they  are  in  cities,  which  are  rightly  called  the 
"graveyards  of  the  human  race  ;"  moreover, that  from  his 
mother  or  his  father  there  came  to  him  a  sturdy  inheri- 
tance, while  to  the  youngsters  he  looks  down  upon  were 
more  than  likely  bequeathed  infirmities  which  had  been 
in  their  families  for  several  generations. 

Men  have  theorized  over  their  own  diet  for  scores  of 
years  yet  they  are  no  nearer  agreement  now  than  they 
were  in  the  beginning.  One  calls  attention  to  the  fact 
that  Scotch  Highlanders,  the  Irish,  the  peasantry  of  Italy, 
Spain,  and  Portugal,  Chinamen,  and  other  races  thrive  on 
oatmeal,  potatoes,  corn,  chestnuts,  olives,  rice  or  lentils, 
with  little  or  no  meat,  and  that  in  Scotland  a  mountaineer 
will  walk  thirty  or  forty  miles  a  day  on  oatmeal  cakes  or 
porridge  with  a  little  barley  broth  and  a  modicum  of  milk 
or  butter,  while  an  Indian  palanquin-bearer  will  carry  his 
burden  twenty-five  or  thirty  miles  a  day  with  only  two 
meals  of  unleavened  cakes  and  a  little  ghee. 

Another  points  to  the  Eskimos,  to  the  fishing  popula- 
tion of  Norway,  and  to  the  Pecherais  of  the  southern  end 
of  South  America,  who  subsist  most  of  the  time  wholly 
on  animal  food  ;  also  to  the  fact  that  for  months  the 
hunters  of  the  West  have  little  or  no  food  but  the  flesh 
of  the  animals  they  kill. 

What  do  these  facts  prove }  Merely  that  man  can  live 
on  vegetable  or  on  animal  foods.  There  is  nothing  con- 
clusive in  all  this.  Neither  the  flesh-eaters  nor  the  vege- 
table-eaters as  a  whole  are  superior  races  ;  and  it  is  a  sig- 
nificant fact  that  when  the  East  Indian  rebellion  against 
the  English  occurred  not  many  years  ago  some  of  the 
hardest  fighters  among  the  Hindus  were  the  sepoys  who 
had  been  accustomed  by  the  English  to  a  mixed  diet. 


1 6  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

All  this  in  relation  to  man's  diet,  while  seemingly  for- 
eign, has  a  bearing  on  the  diet  of  dogs,  for  he  is  singularly- 
inclined  to  consider  that  their  requirements  are  much  the 
same  as  his  own.  But  such  reasoning  is  not  always  sound, 
for  the  dog  is  of  a  different  order  of  animals  and  of  dif- 
ferent structure,  and  although  he  has  accommodated  him- 
self to  other  than  his  natural  diet  there  must  be  limits  to 
his  powers  in  this  direction.  Nor  does  it  follow  that  if  one 
man  is  right  and  his  dog  is  doing  well  on  some  peculiar 
diet  all  others  who  feed  differently  are  in  the  wrong. 

There  is  an  old  saw,  "What  is  one  man's  meat  is 
another's  poison."  Nearly  all  mankind  to  whom  they 
are  accessible  can  safely  eat  strawberries,  but  still  now 
and  then  is  encountered  a  person  on  whom  they  bring 
out  a  most  annoying  rash.  Nature's  first  food  for  every 
child  is  animal  —  milk  —  and  yet  there  are  not  a  few  peo- 
ple who  are  made  ill  by  it.  The  egg  is  certainly  one  of 
the  most  harmless  of  foods,  nevertheless  instances  are  on. 
record  where  the  merest  trace  of  it  has  caused  con- 
vulsions. 

But  ignoring  these  idiosyncrasies,  which  are  fortunately 
but  rarely  encountered  in  man,  while  if  they  exist  in  dogs 
they  can  scarcely  be  any  more  common,  two  persons  sel- 
dom meet  who  are  fond  of  and  can  digest  with  equal  ease 
the  same  kinds  of  foods,  and  such  being  the  case  indi- 
vidual peculiarities  surely  must  occur  occasionally  among 
their  humble  companions  so  often  fed  from  the  table. 

Another  fact  which  has  a  bearing  on  the  question  under 
discussion  is,  that  the  immediate  results  of  diet  are  by  no 
means  to  be  accepted  as  final.  In  other  words,  because  a 
man  or  a  dog  apparently  keeps  healthy  and  strong  for 
several  years  on  nearly  all  meat  or  on  nearly  all  vege- 
tables, it  does  not  follow  that  the  chosen  diet  is  a 
suitable   one,    for    it   might   be  doing  harm  and    hidden 


THE  NATURAL  DIET.  I? 

changes  be  going  on  which  must  sooner  or  later  result 
disastrously. 

And  now  to  the  conclusions.  Physicians  and  sanita- 
rians after  drawing  from  the  accumulated  experience  of 
men  under  various  circumstances  have  generally  agreed 
that  with  healthy  people  living  in  the  open  country,  not 
working  very  hard,  and  having  an  abundance  of  good 
wholesome  vegetable  foods,  meat  is  tiot  necessary  ;  while 
on  the  other  hand  it  is  necessary  where  the  air  is  not  pure, 
the  wear  and  tear  on  the  nervous  system  is  great,  and  the 
work  is  hard. 

Practically  the  same  conclusion  must  be  reached  with 
dogs  after  an  intelligent  study  of  them  under  various  con- 
ditions. While  their  nature  is  such  they  must  have  some 
meat  always,  the  quantity  must  be  adjusted  to  the  amount 
of  work  given  them.  And  notwithstanding  the  potency 
of  the  force  of  habit  which  enables  a  dog  to  accommodate 
himself  to  quite  decided  changes  from  his  natural  diet,  if 
he  has  been  very  active  and  accustomed  to  much  meat 
from  puppyhood  up,  and  the  quantity  of  this  food  is  sud- 
denly reduced  and  he  is  given  a  diet  composed  largely  of 
vegetables,  and  allowed  to  continue  to  take  as  much  exer- 
cise  as  usual,  he  will  surely  fall  off  in  condition.  Now 
apply  the  same  radical  treatment  to  another  dog  that  has 
been  accustomed  to  a  vegetable  diet  and  give  him  meat  in 
large  quantities  but  no  more  work,  and  evil  results  are  as 
certain. 

Obviously  therefore  although  men  differ  widely  on  this 
matter,  and  one  contends  that  a  diet  of  meat  is  best  for 
his  dogs,  while  another  stoutly  maintains  that  his  require 
this  food  only  in  very  small  quantities  and  that  vegetables 
and  starches  are  nearly  sufficient  for  their  support,  it  does 
not  follow  that  one  or  both  must  be  wrong. 

I^imiting  the  question  to  them,  both  may  be  right,  for 


1 8  KENNEL  SECRETS. 

l".he  dogs  of  one  because  of  being  worked  hard  may  actu- 
ally demand  a  diet  largely  of  flesh,  while  the  dogs  of  the 
other  in  consequence  of  being  much  confined  may  require 
but  a  small  proportion  of  this  food ;  and  neither  kennel 
would  do  well  on  the  diet  of  the  other.  But  for  either  of 
the  owners  of  these  dogs  to  assert  that  his  is  the  only 
true  theory,  and  that  it  should  be  accepted  by  all,  and  the 
entire  canine  race,  no  matter  how  placed,  should  be  fed 
accordingly,  is  manifestly  absurd. 

Here  again  one  is  confronted  with  the  theory  that  in  all 
animals,  including  man,  the  stomach  recognizes  its  own 
wants,  but  which,  perhaps  strangely,  is  not  so  generally 
accepted  when  applied  to  the  quantity  of  food  that  is  evi- 
dently required.  If  the  appetite  be  ravenous  the  average 
caretaker  is  not  likely  to  assume  it  to  be  trustworthy  evi- 
dence and  feed  accordingly,  but,  as  a  rule,  he  jumps  to  the 
conclusion  that  it  is  an  indication  of  perversion,  therefore 
practically  ignores  it.  Whereas  it  should  be  not  only  con- 
sidered seriously,  but  often  the  appetite  be  satisfied,  or  at 
least  the  quantity  of  food  allowed  be  much  more  generous, 
the  fact  being  in  mind  always  that  with  older  pups  or 
matured  dogs  it  is  very  generally  an  indication  of  worms. 
If  harboring  them,  certainly  the  victims  must  have  the 
extra  support  which  their  appetite  craves. 


CHAPTER   II. 


VARIETIES    OF    ANIMAL    FOODS. 


As  stated  in  the  foregoing,  puppies  while  young  and 
growing  require  in  proportion  a  more  generous  quantity 
of  animal  food  for  muscle  and  bone  building  than  they 
will  after  they  are  mature  and  their  structures  are  com- 
plete. This  does  not  mean,  however,  that  they  should 
have  a  greater  proportion  of  meat  than  mature  dogs,  for 
while  yet  they  are  very  young,  milk  will  supply  them  with 
all  the  needed  materials ;  but  it  must  prove  insufficient 
after  a  time,  and  this  comes  much  sooner  with  the  large 
than  with  the  small  breeds. 

Narrowing  the  question  to  meat,  as  with  mature  dogs 
much  depends  upon  existing  circumstances.  Manifestly 
a  mastiff  puppy  requires  more  meat  than  a  pointer,  and  a 
Yorkshire  still  less  than  the  latter.  Again,  in  all  litters 
of  reasonable  size  there  are  some  that  need  more  stimu- 
lating food  than  others,  consequently  they  must  be  given 
larger  proportions  of  meat. 

In  solving  this  problem  the  age  must  of  course  be  con- 
sidered, also  the  amount  of  exercise  taken.  For  instance, 
in  the  first  three  months  puppies  are  much  less  active 

19 


20  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

than  they  are  during  the  three  following,  consequently 
even  were  they  able  properly  to  digest  large  quantities  of 
meat  soon  after  the  weaning  they  must  not  be  given  them 
lest  their  blood  and  systems  be  rendered  impure  thereby. 
But  as  they  grow  older  and  exercise  more,  and  by  this  means 
more  quickly  eliminate  the  waste  from  their  bodies,  the 
proportion  of  meat  can  be  safely  increased,  although  in  all 
instances  it  must  be  done  gradually,  and  in  some  it  will 
be  found  that  the  increase  required  from  month  to  month 
need  not  be  very  great. 

It  is  absolutely  impossible,  therefore,  to  fix  a  rule  to 
govern  the  proportion  of  meat  for  puppies.  Considering 
them  as  a  whole,  however,  also  the  quantity  of  milk  that 
they  generally  take  and  the  number  of  meals  they  have 
daily,  it  can  safely  be  accepted  that  about  one-fourth  is 
near  right  for  them  after  they  are  three  or  four  months 
old.  But  as  already  intimated  it  should  be  larger  where 
they  are  of  the  largest  breeds,  provided  always  the  increase 
is  well  borne  and  the  growth  more  rapid  and  sturdy  under 
it.  On  the  other  hand,  the  proportion  should  be  less  for 
smaller  breeds,  many  of  which  will  thrive  and  keep  healthy 
and  strong  on  a  diet  in  which  meat  only  appears  occasion- 
ally and  then  in  small  quantities. 

For  excess  in  animal  foods  there  are  fixed  penalties, 
and  under  some  conditions  of  life  they  are  more  severe 
than  for  those  of  excess  in  vegetable  foods.  While  the 
latter  tends  to  the  production  of  obesity,  which  in  itself  is 
a  very  serious  matter,  as  with  brood  bitches,  and  to  dis- 
eases especially  of  the  skin,  as  eczema,  the  former  strikes 
deeper,  and  lessens  greatly  functional  activity  and  leads 
to  an  accumulation  of  impurities  within  the  system. 

These  effects  were  well  illustrated  in  two  mastiffs,  bred 
by  the  writer,  which  a  few  years  ago  excited  much  interest 
in  breeders  of  their  variety,  for  the  reason  that  they  were, 


ANIMAL  FOODS.  2\ 

as  far  as  known,  the  largest  pair  ever  raised  from  the  same 
litter.  Both  were  sold  to  the  same  gentleman,  the  dog 
puppy  in  the  tenth  week  and  his  sister  when  eight  and 
one-half  months  old.  Their  purchaser  being  an  ardent 
believer  in  the  theory  that  flesh  alone  is  appropriate  food 
for  the  dog,  fed  almost  solely  on  it,  and  at  the  tenth  month 
they  were  each  accustomed  to  eat  between  four  and  five 
pounds  daily.  Marvellous  development  was  the  result, 
but  it  was  attained  at  a  terrible  cost,  for  the  dog  died  at 
maturity  of  what  was  called  a  cancerous  disease,  and  his 
sister  followed  him  in  less  than  a  year  ;  she,  according  to 
the  report  of  her  owner,  "breaking  out  with  fearful  sores, 
wasting  rapidly  and  dying  after  a  short  illness." 

It  is  reasonable  to  assume  that  these  mastiffs  living 
lazy,  luxurious  lives,  were  destroyed  by  excess  of  animal 
food.  And  it  is  a  significant  fact  that  the  sister,  which 
had  been  fed  on  a  mixed  diet  until  eight  and  one-half 
months  of  age,  yielded  to  the  excess  after  suffering  from 
it  for  about  the  same  length  of  time  as  her  brother. 

While  considering  the  evil  consequences  of  excess  in 
animal  food  attention  can  properly  be  directed  to  the 
effects  of  excess  in  foods  properly  combined  and  in  cor- 
rect proportions.  Among  the  most  constant  of  these  are 
disordered  digestion,  derangements  of  the  bowels,  vitiated 
secretions,  torpid  action  of  the  vital  organs  generally, 
obesity,  perverted  nutrition,  and  as  concomitants,  fatty 
degeneration  and  organic  diseases.  Chronic  or  perma- 
nent distension  of  the  stomach  is  another  disastrous  con- 
sequence of  habitually  overloading  this  organ ;  which, 
while  it  is  doubtless  frequently  acquired  after  maturity, 
for  obvious  reasons  far  more  often  occurs  during  the  early 
months  of  puppyhood.  And  it  is  well  to  add  that  once  it 
becomes  permanent  it  can  never  be  overcome  ;  and  in 
after  life  there  is  always  a  tendency  to  indigestion,  nutri- 


22  KENNEL  SECRETS. 

tion  invariably  suffers,  and  as  a  rule  the  victims  are  low 
in  flesh  no  matter  how  wisely  and  generously  they  are 
fed. 

The  question  of  preparation  of  animal  food  deserves  a 
passing  notice.  Undoubtedly  flesh  can  be  rendered  more 
digestible  by  the  means  of  cooking,  and  where  that  is 
rightly  done,  all  things  considered,  it  can  justly  be  held 
as  best  under  the  usual  conditions  of  life.  But  when  the 
processes  of  cooking  are  faulty  and  the  way  in  which  they 
:are  conducted  is  indifferent,  speaking  generally,  it  is  safe 
to  say  that  meat  in  its  raw  state  would  be  better  suited  to 
digestion,  provided  it  was  in  a  form  which  rendered  it 
easily  accessible  to  the  digestive  fluids — that  is,  if  it  was 
lorn  or  bruised  and  in  small  pieces. 

Boiling  is  the  method  usually  resorted  to  in  kennels,  it 
Ibeing  the  most  convenient.  Aside  from  the  faults  of 
•practice  it  is  open  to  some  quite  decided  objections,  the 
•most  pronounced  of  which  is,  that  it  renders  the  muscular 
fibre  difflcult  of  digestion  whether  the  same  is  a  mass  of 
hard  strings,  as  it  were,  or  finely  divided.  Soups  in  which 
the  meat  has  softened  down  and  "  boiled  away  "  are  highly 
nutritious,  yet  although  broken  up  in  minute  fragments 
the  muscular  fibre  is  scarcely  more  digestible  than  it 
was  while  in  one  mass  ;  moreover  these  fragments  are 
now  enveloped  in  the  gelatine  of  the  meat,  —  extracted  by 
the  long  continued  high  heat, — and  this  to  some  extent 
prevents  their  being  acted  on  by  the  digestive  fluids. 

Notwithstanding  this  lessened  digestibility  of  the  meat, 
dogs  are  capable  of  disposing  of  these  soups  to  good  advan- 
tage if  the  quantity  is  properly  restricted,  but  if  in  excess 
much  of  them  is  unaffected  during  their  journey  through 
the  body,  and  is  therefore  wasted ;  and,  besides,  the  diges- 
tive organs  are  very  likely  to  rebel  and  become  deranged 
in  consequence  of  the  imposition. 


ANIMAL   FOODS.  23 

As  for  fresh  meats  cooked  for  the  table,  unless  of  course 
a  perfect  contempt  for  culinary  laws  is  exhibited,  they  can 
safely  be  regarded  as  quite  well  suited  to  the  digestion  of 
dogs,  also,  as  containing  the  most  of  the  nutritive  proper- 
ties of  these  foods.  And  where  dogs  share  the  diet  of 
their  masters,  or  in  other  words  are  fed  on  scraps  from 
the  table,  and  the  quantity  of  meat  given  them  is  ample, 
it  is  scarcely  necessary  to  consider  the  question  of  quality 
or  that  of  cooking. 

But  considering  the  popular  method  of  cooking  meat 
specially  for  dogs  and  the  want  of  care  which  so  many 
exhibit  in  its  application,  the  conclusion  is  inevitable  that 
under  certain  conditions  of  life  they  should  be  fed  on  raw 
meat  while  those  conditions  last. 

That  this  may  be  accepted  the  fact  is  urged  that  no 
matter  how  scientific  the  process  of  cooking,  alterations 
of  a  chemical  nature  are  induced  in  meat  and  some  of 
its  nutritive  elements  are  wasted.  Were  man  perfectly 
familiar  with  all  the  inner  workings  of  the  dog's  mech- 
anism, the  demands  in  the  way  of  food  and  the  peculiari- 
ties of  his  organs  concerned  in  digestion,  then  the  problem 
of  supply  required  for  the  growth  and  health  of  the  body 
and  to  renew  the  loss  from  wear  and  tear,  etc.,  might  pos- 
sibly be  worked  out.  But  the  dietician  has  yet  to  enter 
this  province,  and  at  present  only  rough  estimates  can  be 
made,  and  a  very  wide  margin  must  be  left  to  cover  the 
many  conditions,  fixed  or  accidental,  of  which  little  or 
nothing  is  known. 

Thus  far  experience  has  shown  the  writer  that  bitches 
in-pup  which  are  occasionally  allowed  raw  meat  during 
the  periods  of  gestation  and  nursing  are  stronger  and 
healthier,  give  whelp  to  more  vigorous  puppies  and  prove 
better  support  for  the  same,  than  bitches  fed  entirely  on 
cooked   meat    during   these    periods  —  that   is,  on    meat 


24  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

cooked  specially  for  them.  The  reason  for  the  superior 
qualities  is  of  course  problematical,  but  it  would  seem  that 
either  raw  meat  was  more  easily  digested  by  them  and 
more  readily  converted  with  less  waste  into  materials  for 
building,  for  renovation  of  the  body,  etc.,  than  cooked 
meat,  or  that  raw  meat  contained  highly  important  ele- 
ments in  better  forms  or  more  correct  proportions  for  the 
work  in  which  they  were  engaged,  and  to  support  them 
while  doing  it,  than  cooked  meat. 

Experience  has  also  shown  that  in  many  morbid  states 
of  the  system  not  only  is  raw  meat  more  acceptable  to  the 
digestive  organs,  but  recovery  takes  place  much  more  rap- 
idly under  its  use  than  it  does  under  the  use  of  cooked 
meat.  And  another  product  of  experience  is  the  fact  that 
puppies  to  which  raw  meat  is  given  often  and  judiciously, 
thrive  better,  grow  in  structure  with  greater  rapidity, 
assume  more  massive  proportions  and  are  less  frequently 
ailing  than  those  given  cooked  meat  only,  although  the 
quantity  of  meat  is  the  same  in  both  instances. 

But  there  is  a  bitter  prejudice  against  the  giving  of 
uncooked  meat  to  dogs  because  of  the  parasites  which  it 
sometimes  contains.  Beyond  doubt  this  danger  exists, 
for  nations  habituated  to  the  use  of  raw  meat  are  notori- 
ous harborers  of  tapeworms  ;  but  still  the  writer  believes 
that  much  greater  alarm  is  felt  than  is  justifiable.  Man  is 
as  easily  infected  as  dogs,  yet  among  people  of  civilized 
countries  cases  of  tapeworms  are  never  frequent,  —  in  fact 
they  are  rare  except  in  imagination,  in  which  pictures  of 
them  are  drawn  by  pretenders  to  medical  skill,  who  have 
methods  of  their  own  for  deluding  their  patients.  And 
considering  this  rarity,  also  that  cooking  as  often  applied 
will  not  destroy  the  vitality  of  these  parasites,  raw 
meat  cannot  be  nearly  as  fierce  a  menace  as  generally 
reputed. 


ANIMAL  FOODS.  25 

This  is  true  of  the  kinds  of  meat  which  appear  on  the 
table  while  yet  partially  cooked,  or  "  done  rare,"  as  com- 
monly expressed,  but  there  are  evidently  animal  sub- 
stances—  some  of  them  are  occasionally  eaten  by  man 
—  often  fed  out  to  dogs,  from  which  far  greater  danger  is 
to  be  apprehended  unless  they  are  first  submitted  to  a 
boiling  temperature.  Among  such  are  the  hearts,  livers, 
lungs  —  called  "  lights  "  by  many  —  paunches  and  other 
internal  organs.  Even  greater  danger  lurks  in  the  entrails 
of  many  animals  ;  and  these,  whether  from  sheep,  cattle, 
horses  or  game,  should  be  given  to  dogs  only  after  they 
have  been  thoroughly  boiled  for  the  purpose  of  destroying 
what  parasites  are  present.  The  brains  of  certain  ani- 
mals, especially  the  sheep,  are  also  a  source  of  danger, 
which  must  exclude  them  from  the  diet  until  they  have 
been  treated  in  the  same  way  as  the  entrails. 

These  dangers  from  so  many  different  sources  can, 
however,  be  easily  obviated  by  observing  the  simple  rule, 
to  feed  to  dogs,  while  yet  in  the  raw  state,  only  good, 
sound  and  wholesome  beef  or  mutton,  and  thoroughly 
cook  all  other  flesh  foods  allowed  them.  This  religiously 
adhered  to,  the  danger  of  parasites  from  animal  foods 
will  be  very  slight  indeed  and  need  not  occasion  any 
uneasiness. 

Breeders  generally  are  much  prejudiced  against  pork, 
and  rightly  so,  for  it  is  rich  and  burdensome  to  the  diges- 
tive organs  —  in  fact  of  all  meats  it  is  the  most  difficult  of 
digestion.  At  the  same  time  to  what  are  called  "scraps" 
by  some  and  "  cracklings  "  by  others,  which  are  the  refuse 
of  melting  or  refining,  there  can  be  no  valid  objection  as 
an  occasional  ingredient  of  the  diet  of  hardy  dogs.  But 
instead  of  giving  them,  as  is  sometimes  the  custom,  as 
they  are  broken  from  the  cakes,  much  the  better  way  is  to 
make  soups  of  them  and  thicken  the  same  with  vegetable 
foods. 


26  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

Although  liver  is  nearly  as  deserving  of  prejudice  as 
pork  it  frequently  appears  before  dogs,  and  doubtless  it  is 
accountable  for  many  mysterious  attacks  of  diarrhoea,  for 
it  is  one  of  the  richest  of  foods  and  as  difficult  of  digestion 
as  it  is  rich.  Considering  which  only  an  occasional  and 
^sparing  use  should  be  the  rule. 

As  for  what  are  known  as  "  lights,"  some  writers  recom- 
mend them,  yet  a  person  would  not  be  likely  to  feed  them 
to  a  house  pet  more  than  once,  for  they  give  the  breath 
an  intolerable  stench,  which  can  be  accepted  as  unmis- 
takable evidence  that  decomposition  occurred  and  advanced 
far  before  the  stomach  completed  its  task. 

In  the  giving  of  raw  meat  there  are  certain  precautions 
to  be  observed  which  are  well  worth  considering  here. 
The  dog  commonly  "  bolts  "  the  food  placed  before  him 
largely  because  there  is  little  if  any  necessity  for  him  to 
do  otherwise,  but  accustom  him  to  foods  which  require 
mastication  and  the  assistance  of  the  saliva,  and  he  soon 
shows  that  he  has  sense  —  or  instinct  —  enough  to  know 
that  he  must  chew  them  before  he  swallows  them.  In 
feeding  raw  meat  the  facts  are  often  ignored  that  dogs 
have  teeth  for  cutting  and  tearing,  and  that  if  the  same 
are  industriously  used  on  this  food  it  will  be  converted 
into  a  form  favorable  for  digestion.  As  a  consequence 
the  erroneous  practice  of  giving  it  to  them  in  pieces  but 
little  smaller  than  the  fist  is  a  common  one ;  and  to  this 
can  be  attributed  many  of  the  digestive  disturbances 
of  which  breeders  have  occasionally  complained  and  for 
which  they  have  blamed  the  food. 

It  ought  not  to  be  necessary  to  urge  that  raw  meat  for 
dogs,  old  and  young,  that  are  fairly  healthy  and  have  good, 
sound  teeth  should  when  possible  be  put  before  them  in  a 
form  which  will  make  it  necessary  for  them  to  cut,  tear 
and  crush  it  before  it  can  be  swallowed  ;  or  in  other  words 


ANIMAL   FOODS.  2^ 

it  should  be  in  very  large  pieces,  and  preferably  attached 
to  bones  of  good  size.  And  when  it  cannot  be  obtained 
in  suitable  form  it  should  be  cut  into  small  pieces 
or  crushed  with  a  mallet  before  it  is  fed  out  ;  or  if 
intended  for  puppies  or  for  the  sick  it  should  always  be. 
minced  or  scraped. 

It  will  scarcely  do  utterly  to  ignore  without  comment 
that  ancient  idea  that  meat  injures  the  dog's  "  nose." 
Where  this  food  is  given  intelligently  its  effect  upon  the 
scenting  powers  is  transitory  merely  and  limited  solely  to 
the  period  of  active  digestion.  In  other  words,  after  he 
has  eaten  his  fill  of  meat,  for  two  or  three  hours  his  sense 
of  smell  is  less  keen,  but  as  soon  as  digestion  is  well 
advanced  it  is  restored  and  just  as  powerful  as  before  eat- 
ing. And  it  can  safely  be  said  that  a  sporting  dog  might 
be  allowed  meat  from  puppyhood  until  incapacitated  by 
age  and  his  "  nose "  would  not  in  the  slightest  degree 
fall  off  in  consequence  of  his  diet.  But  meat  will  injure 
this  sense  if  it  is  given  out  of  proportion  to  the  amount  of 
work  or  exercise,  for  then  the  dog  is  sure  to  become 
feverish  and  his  "  nose  "  as  well  as  his  general  health  must 
fail  him.  And  where  such  failure  has  occurred  in  con- 
sequence of  meat  it  has  been  invariably  due  to  the  lack  of 
judgment  on  the  part  of  the  owners  —  they  giving  too 
much  of  this  food  and  too  little  exercise. 

The  habit  of  burying  meat,  so  common  among  dogs, 
has  been  the  subject  of  speculation,  and  two  theories  have 
been  advanced  in  explanation.  One  is,  that  they  do  it  to 
ripen  it  and  render  it  more  digestible  —  possibly,  also, 
that  it  may  acquire  a  richer  flavor.  Yet  dogs  often  bury 
meat  that  is  literally  putrid,  and  the  other  theory  seems 
the  most  plausible  —  that  so  great  is  their  fondness  for 
this  food  they  will  eat  it  in  any  form,  and,  like  all  animals 
of  the  same  family,  store  away  and  conceal  if  possible  for 


28  KENNEL   SECRETS.   . 

the  future  what  remains  after  their  appetites  have  been 
satisfied  or  their  jaws  have  tired  from  gnawing. 

The  reader  will  do  well  to  accept  this  solution  of  the 
problem,  for  otherwise  he  might  assume  that  meat  even 
in  advanced  stages  of  decomposition  would  be  good 
enough  and  not  impossibly  preferable  for  his  dogs.  He 
may  accept  as  a  fact  that  all  tainted  meat  is  poisonous, 
although  it  is  less  so  to  dogs  than  to  men  because  of  their 
greater  powers  of  resistance.  In  fact  a  quantity  of  food 
poison  that  would  kill  a  man  might  not  have  any  apprecia- 
ble effect  upon  his  dog.  But  notwithstanding  this  there 
are  limits,  and  of  course  no  one  knows  where  they  are 
placed ;  consequently  the  wisest  and  safest  plan  to  pursue 
is  to  feed  dogs  on  foods  that  are  above  suspicion. 

It  is  well  to  add  that  of  all  animal  foods  none  undergo 
poisonous  changes  as  quickly  as  liver,  and  when  but 
slightly  tainted  it  is  extremely  likely  to  cause  severe 
diarrhoea. 

It  is  evidently  a  part  of  the  plan  of  Nature  that  a  rela- 
tion should  exist  between  the  general  character  of  an  ani- 
mal and  its  food,  and  in  keeping  with  this  flesh-eaters  are 
in  general  bolder  and  more  combative  than  the  vegetable- 
eaters  upon  which  they  prey.  The  same  relation  also 
appears  in  animals  that  subsist  on  a  mixed  diet,  and  man 
affords  one  of  the  best  illustrations  of  it.  Assuming  that 
he  has  been  living  on  a  diet  in  which  the  proportions  of 
these  foods  are  about  three  parts  vegetables  to  one  of 
meat,  now  let  him  increase  the  quantity  of  meat  and 
lessen  that  of  vegetables,  and  the  chances  are  many  that 
if  of  a  refined  and  easy-going,  well-balanced  nature  he  will 
before  many  weeks  show  some  gross  qualities  and  become 
more  or  less  peevish  and  exacting.  And  returning  again 
to  his  original  diet  his  good-natured  disposition  will  be 
restored. 


ANIMAL   FOODS.  29 

The  same  relation  and  about  the  same  degree  of  inti- 
macy exists  in  dogs,  and  one  quiet  and  gentle  while  being 
fed  largely  on  vegetables  will  more  than  likely  become  a 
little  bolder  and  perhaps  be  less  good-natured  towards 
strangers.  And  in  this  case,  as  in  the  other,  the  animal 
food  acts  as  a  stimulant  and  arouses  the  natural  ferocity, 
which  although  evidences  of  it  may  under  ordinary  condi- 
tions be  wanting  yet  exists  in  every  flesh-eating  animal. 

However,  this  action  of  meat  upon  dogs  is  not  suffi- 
ciently intense  to  make  it  worthy  of  consideration  ;  and 
where  they  have  become  savage  under  its  generous  use, 
were  the  truth  known  it  would  doubtless  appear  that  in 
nearly  all  cases  they  had  been  much  kept  on  the  chain  at 
the  time,  and  the  perversion  of  nature  was  due  far  more 
to  the  restraint  than  to  the  diet.  In  a  word,  treat  a  dog 
humanely,  and  his  diet,  no  matter  how  generous  the  pro- 
portion of  meat,  will  very  seldom  injure  his  nature. 

Reverting  to  the  culinary  preparation  of  animal  food, 
it  is  again  urged  that  when  the  popular  method,  boiling, 
is  applied,  in  every  instance  the  water  or  broth  be  fed  out 
with  the  meat  because  this  contains  important  elements, 
extracted  during  the  cooking,  which  the  body  must  have 
for  its  support,  especially  if  under  heavy  drains,  as  during 
gestation  and  nursing. 

As  practically  stated,  to  occasionally  vary  the  form  of 
the  meat  in  the  diet  from  cooked  to  raw  is  advisable,  but 
the  latter  can  scarcely  be  wisely  given  with  vegetables 
and  starches,  unless  it  is  finely  minced  and  so  thoroughly 
mixed  with  them  it  cannot  be  picked  out.  Hence,  when 
it  is  to  be  but  a  part  of  a  feed,  it  should  be  withheld  until 
the  last,  for  the  other  foods  might  be  left  untouched  — 
the  keen  edge  of  the  appetite  having  been  taken  off  by 
the  much  more  palatable  morsels. 

As  for  bones,  they  have  rightly  been  called  the  dog's 


30  KENNEL  SECRETS. 

tooth  brush,  for  by  means  of  them  matters  which  accu- 
mulate on  the  teeth  are  largely  removed.  Those  which 
are  soft  and  can  be  easily  crushed,  as  the  body  bones  of 
calves,  sheep,  etc.,  should  be  given  at  frequent  intervals, 
but  hard  bones  endanger  the  teeth  ;  and  the  small  and 
dense,  which  sliver  on  breaking,  are  especially  forbid- 
den as  likely  to  cause  intestinal  obstruction  —  an  acci- 
dent which  has  proved  fatal  to  many  valuable  dogs. 

A  word  as  to  horse-flesh.  That  of  healthy  horses  which 
have  been  killed  by  accident  or  in  consequence  of  acci- 
dent can  safely  be  accepted  as  good  food  for  dogs,  whereas 
the  flesh  of  horses  destroyed  by  disease  should  be  con- 
sidered dangerous,  although  of  course  it  might  not  always 
be  so. 

Meat  with  all  its  bearings  having  been  freely  discussed, 
there  remain  for  consideration  a  few  other  animal  foods 
of  value  in  the  kennels  ;  and  these  are  milk,  eggs,  and 
fish. 

Milk,  Nature's  first  food  for  a  certain  class  of  animals, 
necessarily  contains  all  the  elements  required  for  the 
growth  of  the  body,  and  therefore  it  must  be  placed  high 
in  the  list  of  materials  at  command  for  feeding  dogs  —  old 
as  well  as  young.  But  while  a  perfect  food  for  the  latter, 
its  value  lessens  as  age  advances  because  its  important 
elements  are  so  diluted  with  water ;  and  before  a  mature 
dog  could  obtain  enough  of  them  it  would  be  neces- 
sary literally  to  swamp  his  alimentary  canal.  In  fact, 
were  it  alone  depended  upon  a  dog  of  the  largest  variety 
would  scarcely  find  support  in  less  than  a  gallon  of  milk 
daily ;  and  this  quantity  taken  continually  would  speedily 
injure  his  digestive  system  ;  moreover,  he  would  soon 
weaken  unless  kept  much  at  rest,  for  while  milk  builds 
up  tissues  they  cannot  withstand  very  hard  labor. 

But  notwithstanding  all  this,  new  milk  is   a  valuable 


ANIMAL  FOODS.  3 1 

food  for  dogs  of  all  ages,  and  beyond  its  supportive 
effects  it  has  an  admirable  action  on  the  skin  and  coat. 
And  really  no  more  solid  rule  can  be  fixed  than  to  let  all 
dogs  make  their  breakfasts  on  it,  either  alone  or  thick- 
ening slightly  with  some  of  the  starchy  foods. 

Skimmed  milk,  as  all  must  know,  is  simply  milk  that 
has  parted  with  a  certain  amount  of  its  oleaginous  matter 
or  cream,  while  its  tissue-building  materials  have  all  been 
retained.  It  is  therefore  nourishing,  and  merely  lacks  the 
force-producing  elements  of  the  milk. 

As  for  buttermilk,  this  also  contains  all  of  any  value 
except  the  fatty  matter,  while,  like  skimmed  milk,  it  is 
scarcely  less  refreshing  and  nutritious  than  new  milk  ; 
and  those  who  cannot  afford  the  latter  should  by  all 
means,  in  summer  certainly,  be  well  supplied  with  one 
of  the  others — the  cost  of  which  is  but  a  trifle  compara- 
tively—  and  give  it  to  their  dogs  in  generous  quantities 
for  breakfast. 

The  difference  between  the  skimmed  and  the  new  is  not 
likely  to  be  noted ;  but  buttermilk  is  at  first  less  agree- 
able to  the  taste,  yet  a  fondness  for  it  is  generally  soon 
acquired,  and  it  can  always  be  gratified,  for  this  milk 
is  no  burden  to  digestion,  nor  is  it  at  all  likely  to  affect 
the  bowels  unpleasantly,  as  many  think  it  inclined 
to  do. 

Some  dogs  take  kindly  to  sour  milk,  and  if  so  it  can 
safely  be  allowed  them  in  reasonable  quantities,  but 
breeders  will  do  well  to  withhold  it  from  very  young 
puppies,  although  within  the  experience  of  the  writer  it 
only  occasionally  does  harm.  As  for  its  anthelmintic 
powers,  which  are  generally  thought  to  be  considerable,  if 
it  possesses  any  such  they  are  of  small  account. 

This  list  of  animal  foods  would  be  far  from  complete 
were  eggs  not  included,  for  in  conditioning  the  well  and 


32  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

feeding  the  sick  they  could  scarcely  be  dispensed  with. 
Like  milk  they  contain  all  the  elements  needed  to  sustain 
nutrition,  yet  some  of  them  are  greatly  in  excess  of  what 
would  be  required  for  support,  while  other  and  no  less 
important  essentials  appear  in  such  small  amounts  that  in 
order  to  obtain  all  his  system  demanded,  were  a  dog  of  the 
largest  size  to  live  on  eggs  he  would  be  obliged  to  eat 
very  nearly  two  dozen  each  day. 

There  is,  of  course,  no  truth  in  the  popular  saying  that 
"an  Qgg  is  as  good  as  a  pound  of  meat,"  for  in  proportion 
to  its  weight  it  is  equally  as  nourishing  as  meat,  and  no 
more.  But  it  has  qualities  which  in  some  directions  make 
it  more  valuable  as  a  food  than  meat ;  and  herein  it  greatly 
resembles  cod-liver  oil  —  for  the  yolk  is  very  nearly  one- 
third  fat.  In  fact  for  medicinal  purposes,  the  relative  pro- 
portions of  fatty  matter  duly  considered,  eggs  are  of  no 
less  value  than  that  medicine. 

When  "  spoon-feeding "  is  necessary,  as  in  times  of 
sickness  and  once  in  a  while  in  conditioning  for  dog 
shows,  no  other  food  can  approach  the  Qgg  in  impor- 
tance, being  as  it  is  concentrated  and  so  easy  of  digestion 
that  even  if  the  organs  concerned  in  the  process  are  enfee- 
bled they  are  yet  able  to  dispose  of  it  speedily  and  advan- 
tageously. 

Again,  eggs  are  most  efficient  accessories,  for  the  rea. 
son  that  quickly  and  easily  digested  and  absorbed  as  they 
are  —  except  of  course  when  in  large  quantities  —  they 
scarcely  lessen  the  appetite  for  other  foods,  hence  can  be 
given  in  the  morning,  also  at  noon  if  required  in  special 
cases,  and  the  evening  meal  will  generally  be  as  accept- 
able and  taken  with  as  much  relish  as  if  it  were  the 
only  one  of  the  day.  Beyond  this,  nearly  all  foods  can 
be  fortified  by  them  without  their  presence  being 
detected. 


ANIMAL   FOODS.  33 

In  feeding  the  sick,  the  whites  as  well  as  the  yolks  of 
eo-gs  can  be  given  in  ail  instances  where  the  stomach  will 
retain  them  ;  and  when  vomited,  if  the  yolks  are  removed 
and  only  the  whites  administered  not  only  will  they  gen- 
erally remain  on  the  stomach  but  have  an  agreeable, 
soothing  action  on  its  lining  membrane. 

To  a  dog  that  has  fallen  off  in  coat  and  is  under  weight 
no  better  dietetic  treatment  can  be  administered  than 
plenty  of  new  milk  with  one,  two,  or  more  —  according 
to  his  size  —  raw  eggs,  lightly  beaten  up  in  it  for  break- 
fast, and  the  same  number  at  noon  in  about  half  the  quan- 
tity of  milk  taken  in  the  morning.  And  if  he  is  a  dainty 
feeder,  when  night  comes  another  &gg  or  two  can  wisely 
be  mixed  with  his  meat. 

If  merely  suffering  from  derangement  a  dog  is  quite 
sure  to  "  pick  up  "  quickly  under  this  treatment,  and  he 
will  very  often  do  so  even  when  down  with  disease  ;  while 
in  the  presence  of  good  health  raw  eggs  can  be  given  fre- 
quently, with  the  assurance  that  the  dogs  will  be  all  the 
better  for  the  change. 

It  is  scarcely  necessary  to  add  that  whether  for  man  or 
dogs  the  eggs  should  always  be  fresh,  for  when  stale,  even 
if  they  have  made  no  near  approach  to  decay,  they  are  far 
less  easily  digested  than  the  new-laid. 

The  subject  of  fish  is  one  soon  disposed  of.  All  kinds 
that  have  been  recently  caught  and  properly  cooked  can 
occasionally  be  used  in  feeding  dogs,  but  merely  to  vary 
the  diet,  for  while  nutritious,  as  usually  served  they  are 
not  very  digestible  ;  moreover,  dogs  seldom  show  any  fond- 
ness for  this  food  and  generally  eat  it  under  protest,  as  it 
were. 

When  it  is  to  be  prepared  specially  for  dogs  the 
method  to  be  employed  is  boiling  ;  and  unless  the  fish 
are  very  large  it   is  advisable  to   enclose  them  in   bags 


34 


KENNEL   SECRETS. 


made  of  thin  and  coarse  materials  before   putting  them 
into  the  kettles. 

After  thoroughly  cooking  with  a  few  vegetables  the 
"meat"  should  be  picked  from  the  bones  and  returned 
to  the  broth,  which  should  then  be  thickened  with  bread 
or  some  starchy  food  that  has  been  well  cooked. 


CHAPTER   III. 


VEGETABLE    FOODS. 


Many  who  have  publicly  discussed  the  subject  of  feed- 
ing have  stoutly  asserted  that  vegetable  substances  are 
absolutely  unfit  for  dogs  ;  and  the  reason  which  the  most 
scientific  of  them  have  advanced  is,  that  these  animals  are 
incapable  of  digesting  or  converting  into  components  of 
their  bodies  the  saccharine  and  farinaceous  matters  yielded 
by  such  substances. 

While  the  matters  in  question  are  not  digested  in  the 
stomachs  of  dogs,  but  pass  down  unchanged  into  the  small 
intestine,  experiments  have  proved  that  the  fluids  of  the  lat- 
ter transform  starch  into  sugar  with  the  greatest  prompti- 
tude, and  that  it  is  then  rapidly  absorbed ;  also,  that  if  a 
dog  is  given  meat  with  one  of  the  meals,  as  oatmeal  or 
Indian  meal,  abounding  in  starchy  matter,  while  some  of 
the  former  remains  in  his  stomach  for  several  hours,  the 
latter  immediately  begins  to  pass  into  the  intestine,  and 
the  whole  of  the  starch  even  may  have  completely  disap- 
peared in  an  hour's  time. 

It  is  plainly  evident  therefore  that  Nature  has  made 
provision  for  the  digestion  of  starchy  foods. 


36  KENNEL  SECRETS. 

But  notwithstanding  this,  considering  vegetable  sub- 
stances as  a  whole,  the  fact  remains  that  they  do  not  con- 
tain in  convenient  form  all  that  is  necessary  for  the 
support  of  all  dogs  under  all  conditions,  and  were  the 
entire  race  fed  on  them  alone,  while  some  might  possibly 
keep  well  and  strong,  the  infinite  majority  would  in  time 
decline  in  health  and  vigor,  lacking  as  they  do  that  com- 
plex elaborating  system  which  is  required  for  ready  con- 
version of  these  substances  into  all  the  different  kinds  of 
materials  —  the  heavy  as  well  as  the  light  timbers  — 
imperatively  demanded  for  structure-building  and  repairs. 
But  still,  as  urged  in  the  foregoing  chapters,  they  con- 
tribute in  various  ways'not  a  little  to  the  welfare  of  dogs, 
hence  the  most  serviceable  of  them  deserve  consideration 
here. 

•Commencing  with  garden  produce,  there  are  noted  a 
number  of  vegetables  against  which  with  scarcely  an 
exception  dogs  have  strong  antipathies  and  from  which 
they  will  generally  turn  unless  the  same  are  served  and 
thoroughly  intermingled  with  appetizing  foods.  And  this 
natural  aversion  is  quite  fairly  distributed  although  it 
seems  specially  strong  towards  the  potato  —  very  likely 
for  the  reason  that  it  is  the  most  common  of  its  class  and 
most  frequently  appears  before  them. 

Yet  while  it  is  not  easily  digestible  and  should  be 
excluded  from  the  diet  when  old  or  imperfectly  cooked, 
if  comparatively  young  and  well  cooked  and  mashed  there 
is  nothing  objectionable  about  this  vegetable,  —  in  fact  it 
can  wisely  be  used  occasionally  as  an  accessory  food. 
And  although  it  contributes  but  little  in  the  way  of  sup- 
port and  vigor  there  is  no  denying  that  it  has  health- 
giving  properties,  the  immediate  effect  of  which  appears 
to  be  on  the  blood  itself,  the  integrity  of  which  it  seems 
to  favor. 


VEGETABLE  FOODS.  17 

Practically  the  same  may  be  said  of  the  carrot,  turnip, 
parsnip,  and  beet-root,  all  of  which  the  dog  is  capable  of 
digesting,  provided  always  the  quantity  is  small  and  they 
are  properly  cooked  and  well  mashed.  But  while  they 
supply  in  limited  amount  a  few  of  the  materials  required 
by  the  body,  for  their  nutritive  and  force-producing  proper- 
ties purely  they  are  of  small  value  to  the  dog,  and  for  him 
their  highest  importance  lies  in  their  tendency  to  assist  in 
keeping  the  constitution  of  the  blood  unimpaired. 

As  for  such  vegetables  as  cabbages,  the  tops  of  turnips, 
beets,  nettles,  spinach,  dandelion  and  other  "  greens," 
they  contain  but  little  real  nutriment,  nor  is  much  of 
them  digested  or  absorbed  ;  still  they  favor  the  digestion 
of  "  hearty  "  foods  and  possess  all  the  properties  of  value 
which  have  been  conceded  to  the  tubers. 

In  a  word,  while  not  nutritious  themselves  they  seem 
to  make  other  foods  more  nutritious ;  moreover,  being 
largely  composed  of  woody  fibre  and  chlorophyl,  which 
are  but  slightly  if  at  all  soluble  in  the  digestive  fluids,  they 
act  mechanically  as  stimulants  to  the  bowels,  and  so  tend 
to  keep  them  open  and  free. 

Under  certain  conditions  of  life,  as  when  fed  generously 
but  deprived  of  exercise  sufficient  to  eliminate  the  waste 
—  composed  of  undigested  foods  and  used-up  matters  — 
the  blood  becomes  overloaded  with  impurities,  in  which 
state  it  is  often,  for  convenience,  termed  inflammable  by 
physicians,  while  laymen  are  wont  to  say  that  it  is  "heated 
up,"  the  terms  being  suggested  by  the  very  strong  ten- 
dency which  then  exists  to  inflammations.  And  these,  by 
the  way,  are  singularly  liable  to  manifest  themselves  in 
the  skin  where  dogs  are  the  victims  of  the  accumulated 
impurities. 

It  is  in  such  conditions  as  this  that  the  vegetables  in 
question  have  a  decidedly  good  effect  by  improving  the 


38  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

action  of  the  bowels  —  the  great  waste  avenue  or  sewer — 
which  under  their  impulse  carry  from  the  blood  more  than 
usual  of  its  impurities  ;  and  at  the  same  time  this  vital 
fluid  feels  directly  some  of  the  properties  of  the  vegeta- 
bles and  is  doubtless  more  or  less  purged  by  them. 

Onions,  garlic,  cress  and  other  like  substances  of  pun- 
gent flavors  have  been  credited  with  medicinal  virtues  of 
marked  character,  while  the  first  named  is  believed  by 
some  to  be  a  sure  preventive  as  well  as  destroyer  of 
worms.  They  are  all  stimulants  and  cause  an  increased 
secretion  of  the  saliva  and  gastric  juice,  and  in  this  way 
favor  digestion,  provided  they  are  used  in  moderation, 
while  like  all  other  stimulants  they  cause  irritation  when 
pushed  too  far. 

As  for  the  supposed  anthelmintic  virtues  of  onions,  the 
only  testimony  offered  that  they  possess  any  such  comes 
from  a  few  breeders  who,  accustomed  to  flavor  their  soups 
with  them,  and  their  dogs  having  fortunately  escaped 
worms,  have  jumped  at  the  conclusion  that  the  credit 
belongs  to  this  vegetable.  It  really  contains  an  acrid, 
volatile  oil  that  is  strongly  irritating  and  stimulating,  and 
were  worms  to  encounter  it  in  goodly  quantities  and  in 
concentrated  form  it  would  doubtless  prove  anything  but 
pleasant  to  them,  and  might,  like  all  other  irritant  oils, 
have  some  destructive  effect.  But  much  of  it  is  lost  in 
cooking.  Moreover  the  proportion  of  onions  to  the  other 
ingredients  in  soups  for  dogs  is  scarcely  greater  than  that 
in  like  foods  prepared  for  man,  consequently  it  is  not 
reasonable  to  suppose  that  it  has  the  reputed  effect. 

From  this  brief  consideration  of  garden  produce  the 
conclusion  is  justified  that  vegetables  can  be  advanta- 
geously  employed  in  feeding  dogs,  to  vary  the  diet,  render 
certain  foods  more  nutritious  and  wholesome,  stimulate 
the  secretion  of  the  digestive  solvents,  improve  the  action 


VEGETABLE  FOODS.  39 

of  the  bowels,  and  contribute  towards  the  maintenance  of 
the  integrity  of  the  blood. 

It  is  scarcely  necessary  to  add  that  when  used  they 
should  be  as  fresh  and  free  from  taint  as  those  on  the 
table,  and  that  no  reliance  should  be  placed  upon  them  as 
supports,  the  fact  being  kept  in  mind  that  to  dogs  they 
afford  but  very  little  nourishment. 

Of  the  farinaceous  substances  or  bread-stuffs,  called, 
also,  starchy  foods,  for  the  reason  that  starch  is  the  chief 
constituent  of  them  all,  those  commonly  fed  to  dogs  are 
wheat,  oats,  maize  or  Indian  corn,  and  rice. 

Were  it  best  that  that  kind  of  food  only  should  be  used 
which  embraces  in  a  given  quantity  the  greatest  amount 
of  nutrition,  then  all  but  animal  foods  might  be  dispensed 
with  ;  but  economy  aside,  obviously  the  nutritious  and  unnu- 
tritious  kinds  should  be  used  together,  otherwise  as  the 
average  dog  of  to-day  is  placed  his  digestive  organs  would 
be  likely  to  break  down  in  time  ;  and  even  did  this  not 
occur,  good  form  and  condition  would  scarcely  be  possible. 
Admitting  this,  which  is  certainly  within  reason,  the 
starchy  substances  must  be  accepted  as  good  articles 
of  diet  when  used  in  conjunction  with  other  and  more: 
nutritious  foods. 

Of  these  substances  wheat  is  of  the  highest  value,  con- 
taining as  it  does  the  most  flesh-forming  and  energy-pro- 
ducing materials,  and  although  it  deserves  consideration? 
merely  as  an  accessory  food  it  has  been  shown  by  experi- 
ment that  dogs  can  subsist  upon  it  alone  for  a  long  time 
and  retain  health  and  vigor,  provided  they  are  allowed  all 
parts  of  the  grain.  But  they  could  not  do  this  on  wheat 
as  generally  set  before  them  —  that  is,  as  white  bread, 
which  for  them  is  far  from  being  a  "staff  of  life."  In 
fact  it  is  practically  valueless  except  as  a  vehicle  for,  or 
to  give  substance  to,  other  and  rich  foods  which  might 


40  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

prove  burdensome  to  the  digestive  organs  were  tftey 
served  in  concentrated  forms. 

This  bread  is  very  well  suited  to  the  wants  of  man,  for 
although  it  is  deficient  in  important  nutritive  principles 
—  thrown  out  in  the  processes  of  bolting  and  sifting —  he 
takes  in  other  foods  and  ways  like  principles  in  sufficient 
quantities,  and  oftentimes  in  a  more  digestible  form  than 
that  in  which  they  appear  in  wheat.  Hence,  notwith- 
standing much  that  has  been  written  about  the  superi- 
ority of  wheat  meal  —  simply  the  produce  of  grinding  — 
over  wheat  flour,  all  things  considered,  bread  made  of 
the  latter  is  of  quite  as  high  a  value  to  him  as  the  "brown 
bread,"  which  is  made  of  the  meal  and  contains  the  exter- 
jial  as  well  as  the  internal  parts  of  the  grain. 

But  the  diet  of  dogs  is  not  varied  to  such  an  extent  as 
that  of  man,  and  were  much  white  bread  given  them  to 
the  exclusion  of  other  and  more  nutritious  foods  they 
must  be  deprived  of  many  principles  required  for  their 
support,  not  the  least  important  of  which  are  the  nutri- 
tive salts  —  highly  essential  to  the  bone  and  other  tis- 
sues —  and  in  consequence  decline  in  health  and  vigor, 
although  they  might  still  appear  in  good  condition, 
remaining  very  nearly  at  weight  under  its  fattening 
influence. 

This  fact  should  sink  deeply  into  the  minds  of  those 
breeders  who  are  accustomed  to  feed  their  dogs  largely 
on  trimmings  and  broken  and  stale  pieces  of  bread,  for 
to  ignorance  of  it  or  failure  to  accept  its  importance  can 
be  attributed  untimely  deaths  of  some  of  the  most  valu- 
able members  of  the  race  this  country  has  ever  known. 

Such  bread  remnants  if  untainted  are  all  very  well 
in  their  way,  for  when  softened  with  broths  and  mixed 
with  meat  they  render  these  foods  more  digestible  as 
well  as  slightly  more  nutritious  ;   at  the  same  time  they 


VEGETABLE   FOODS.  41 

harmlessly  increase  the  quantity  —  a  matter  of  no  little 
importance  in  using  highly  concentrated  foods  which 
would  scarcely  satisfy  the  appetite  of  the  average  dog 
unless  more  than  he  could  properly  assimilate  was 
allowed. 

In  brief,  bread  made  from  finer  grades  of  wheat  flour 
yields  so  little  nourishment  to  the  dog  that  it  is  of  value 
merely  for  admixture  with  other  foods,  which  alone  should 
be  very  nearly  sufficient  for  his  support  —  that  is,  without 
the  bread. 

As  for  "  brown  bread  "  proper,  called  Graham  bread  by 
many,  it  is  decidedly  richer  in  nutritive  matters  than  the 
white  bread,  for  it  contains  all  parts  of  the  wheat  grain. 
Owing  also  to  the  presence  of  the  particles  of  bran  — 
which  are  indigestible  and  by  their  roughness  stimulate 
the  muscular  coat  of  the  alimentary  canal,  and  so  aid  in 
keeping  the  bowels  free  —  this  bread  is  of  special  value  in 
feeding  dogs  that  are  allowed  but  little  exercise.  And  it 
may  be  given  with  meat  alone,  in  about  the  proportion  of 
three  parts  bread  to  one  of  meat,  or  mixed  with  other 
starchy  foods  —  as  for  instance,  one-half  "brown  bread," 
one-fourth  rice,  one-fourth  meat,  and  perhaps  one  or  two 
eggs,  the  bread  being  softened  always  with  a  little  broth, 
and  the  meat  chopped  fine  and  well  mixed  with  it  and  the 
other  foods. 

But  this  "  brown  bread  "  must  not  be  confounded  with 
what  is  known  as  "  Boston  brown  bread."  The  former, 
as  stated,  is  made  from  "whole  wheat  flour,"  or  in  other 
words  from  bran  and  flour,  and  has  much  of  the  lightness 
and  porosity  of  white  bread,  but  the  latter  contains  various 
ingredients,  some  of  which  tend  to  lessen  its  digesti- 
bility. And  withal,  while  fresh  it  forms  in  the  stomach  a 
pasty  mass  which  the  digestive  fluids  find  it  hard  to  per- 
meate, and  in  consequence  their  work  is  delayed. 


42  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

The  "  Boston  brown  bread,"  therefore,  is  of  less  value 
to  dogs  than  white  bread,  and  it  should  only  be  given 
them  after  it  has  been  long  baked  or  kept  until  it  is  dry 
and  hard.  In  all  instances,  also,  it  should  be  mixed  with 
other  foods,  as  broths,  meat,  milk,  etc.,  which  in  them- 
selves contain  very  nearly  sufficient  nourishment.  And 
the  quantity  of  this  bread  in  a  single  meal  must  always 
be  small  —  not  more  than  one-half  of  that  which  would 
be  allowable  were  it  white  bread  or  "  brown  bread " 
proper. 

Bread  trimmings  are  quite  extensively  used  in  kennels, 
they  being  obtainable  in  cities  of  dealers  who  contract  for 
them  with  keepers  of  hotels,  restaurants,  etc.,  and  sell 
them  for  much  less  than  the  cost  of  their  ingredients. 
And  such  being  the  case,  something  can  properly  be  said 
here  as  to  the  methods  of  keeping  them. 

As  soon  as  they  are  received  these  trimmings  should 
be  carefully  examined,  one  by  one,  and  all  that  are  in  the 
slightest  degree  mouldy  should  be  thrown  away  as  worse 
than  valueless.  At  the  same  time  the  loaves  or  parts  of 
loaves  of  "  Boston  brown  bread  "  should  be  cut  into  pieces 
not  larger  than  the  hand,  that  they  may  speedily  dry. 
This  done,  the  remnants  should  be  spread  out  in  a  dry 
and  well-ventilated  room,  it  being  borne  in  mind  that  in 
the  presence  of  dampness  they  mould  quickly,  also  that 
when  this  change  has  occurred  they  are  absolutely 
poisonous. 

In  this  country  doubtless  more  maize  or  Indian  corn  is 
used  in  feeding  dogs  than  any  other  starchy  food,  and 
notwithstanding  the  very  bitter  prejudice  of  some  breeders 
against  it,  it  really  affords  a  good,  serviceable  accessory 
food,  provided  it  is  rightly  prepared  and  fed  out,  for  it 
contains  a  fairly  good  proportion  of  flesh-forming  mate- 
rials and  is  rich  in  fat.     Yet  except  when  deprived  of  its 


i 


.0^ 


VEGETABLE  FOODS.  43 

hull  and  in  the  form  of  grits  or  hominy  it  is  not  as 
digestible  as  wheat,  oatmeal  or  rice  ;  moreover  its  pecu- 
liar taste  must  generally  be  disguised  or  dogs  will  turn 
from  it  unless  very  hungry. 

It  is  absolutely  necessary  to  cook  this  meal  for  at  least 
three  hours,  otherwise  it  will  be  highly  indigestible  and 
much  of  it  will  journey  through  the  intestinal  canal  and 
pass  out  unchanged  in  the  discharges,  and  possibly  cause 
diarrhoea.  And  here  appears  one  reason  for  the  disrepute 
into  which  it  has  fallen  with  breeders,  they  failing  to 
meet  this  requirement  and  using  it  when  practically  raw ; 
while  another  pronounced  reason  is,  that  for  weeks  and 
months  it  is  generally  made  the  staple  food  and  rarely 
varied  from. 

But  while  it  is  not  suited  to  toys,  because  like  all  such 
meals  it  is  somewhat  "heating,"  because,  also,  this  and 
other  coarse  meals  are  not  relished  by  them,  when  given 
to  other  varieties  no  unpleasant  results  need  be  appre- 
hended if  care  and  judgment  are  exhibited. 

The  proper  way  to  use  it  is  for  admixture  with  other 
starches  as  well  as  meat.  For  instance,  without  consid- 
ering the  vegetables  or  soup,  let  one  feeding  be  made  up 
of  one-half  boiled  corn  meal,  one-fourth  bread  and  one- 
fourth  meat ;  the  next  time  substitute  rice  for  the  bread  ; 
and  so  on  —  always  softening  the  starches  with  the  broth 
from  the  meat. 

Corn  meal  has  also  been  blamed  for  skin  diseases,  and 
notably  eczema,  and  here  again  many  of  the  complainants 
must  have  been  at  fault  in  keeping  it  until  its  oily  con- 
stituents had  becorne  rancid,  in  which  condition  it  is  dele- 
terious alike  to  man  and  animals,  and  in  both  has  a  special 
tendency  to  excite  cutaneous  affections,  some  of  which  are 
even  more  serious  than  eczema. 

Excepting  it  is  done  in  a  suitable  apparatus   and  by 


44  KENNEL  SECRETS. 

steam,  the  work  of  cooking  this  meal  by  boiling  is  diffi- 
cult and  laborious,  for  unless  it  is  stirred  constantly  it  is 
quite  sure  to  burn  ;  and  in  the  absence  of  as  careful 
watching  as  the  meal  demands,  but  few  to  whom  the  duty 
is  intrusted  are  likely  to  stand  over  a  hot  fire  the  number 
of  hours  required  in  the  process.  Therefore,  if  without  a 
steam  cooker  or  boiler,  all  who  must  trust  to  hired  help 
not  above  suspicion  should  insist  that  after  the  puddings 
have  been  made  they  be  transferred  from  the  kettles  to 
shallow  baking  pans,  put  into  hot  ovens,  and  kept  there 
for  several  hours  at  least, — and  convenience  suggests 
over  night  —  by  which  means  they  will  be  converted  into 
dry  and  crisp  corn  cakes,  which  are  easily  digested, 
whereas  a  mass  of  half-cooked  pasty  pudding  is  like  lead 
to  the  stomach. 

Cakes  made  of  this  meal  alone  are  serviceable  merely 
for  admixture  with  meat  and  vegetables ;  but  were  meat, 
either  cooked  or  raw,  "beef -flour"  or  cracklings,  added  to 
them  in  goodly  quantities  before  baking  they  might  with 
propriety  occasionally  constitute  an  evening  meal. 

Oatmeal  compares  favorably  with  wheat  and  corn  as  far 
as  relates  to  flesh-producing  matter,  and  when  it  has  been 
rightly  boiled  some  dogs  digest  it  well,  but  with  others 
it  very  evidently  disagrees  ;  while  if  improperly  cooked 
it  is  extremely  indigestible  and  irritating  to  the  lining 
of  the  alimentary  canal.  And  at  best  it  is  decidedly 
"  heating." 

Invariably,  at  least  three  hours  of  constant  boiling  are 
required  in  its  preparation,  and  this  faithfully  done,  it  may 
be  used  to  thicken  broths  or  milk,  but  the  quantity  must 
be  small  —  much  smaller  than  that  of  corn  meal  — and 
only  occasional  use  will  be  allowable,  it  being  regarded 
merely  as  a  means  of  varying  the  diet  not  as  a  means  of 
nourishment. 


VEGETABLE   FOODS.  45 

As  for  serving  it  to  dogs  as  man  sometimes  eats  it,  as 
beef  brose  —  made  by  stirring  the  oatmeal  into  hot  broth 
—  or  as  porridge  or  gruel,  in  which  it  is  seldom  if  ever 
cooked,  it  would  be  a  mean  imposition  upon  the  digestive 
organs,  which  would  more  than  likely  be  attended  by  gas- 
tric and  intestinal  disturbance. 

Rice  is  extremely  poor  in  tissue-building  and  energy- 
producing  matters,  being  very  nearly  pure  starch,  yet  it 
is  by  no  means  to  be  despised,  and  as  a  matter  of  fact  it  is 
one  of  the  most  serviceable  of  the  starchy  accessories, 
while  for  toys  like  Yorkshire  terriers  it  is  really  the 
staple  food. 

When  properly  cooked  it  is  digested  with  the  greatest 
ease,  hence  is  well  borne  even  where  the  digestive  organs 
are  disordered.  Furthermore,  it  is  neither  laxative  nor 
constipating.  Again,  it  is  a  food  which  can  without  im- 
propriety be  termed  "  cooling,"  for  it  is  absolutely  want- 
ing in  stimulating  properties,  and  can  safely  be  given  in 
febrile  states  without  fear  of  intensifying  the  existing 
trouble  and  fever ;  while  in  conditions  of  the  system  in 
which  there  is  a  tendency  to  inflammation  or  a  "  heating 
up  "  of  the  blood,  it  never,  in  the  slightest  degree,  aggra- 
vates such  tendency. 

Consequently  it  can  rightly  be  said  to  constitute  a  food 
of  exceeding  value,  especially  for  toys  that  are  peculiarly 
liable  to  be  "heated  up"  and  as  a  result  have  "breakings 
out "  of  the  skin,  also  for  all  other  breeds  when  they 
exhibit  like  tendencies.  And  with  its  other  good  quali- 
ties it  is  fattening,  therefore  a  useful  aliment  with  all  that 
are  under  weight. 

But  while  rice  is  all  this,  the  fact  that  it  is  deficient  in 
nutritive  principles  must  not  go  out  of  sight,  and  when 
used  it  should  be  with  other  foods,  as  meat  and  its 
products  and  milk,  which  can  compensate  for  those  prin- 
ciples in  which  it  is  wanting. 


46  KENNEL  SECRETS. 

Dogs  are  sometimes  given  rye  in  the  bread  trimmings 
from  the  table.  Some  breeders,  also,  have  a  meal  made 
of  equal  parts  of  this  grain,  oats  and  corn,  and  bake  the 
same  in  cakes  ;  and  this  combination  is  said  to  act  well  on 
hardy  dogs  that  are  given  a  very  great  amount  of  exer- 
cise every  day. 

Alone,  however,  it  is  not  a  serviceable  food  except  as  an 
occasional  change,  and  small  quantities  at  long  intervals 
should  be  the  rule,  otherwise  obstinate  indigestion  would 
be  likely  to  result.  Nor  should  it  be  considered  a  "  cor- 
rective " —  to  overcome  constipation — for  green  vege- 
tables are  more  efficient,  besides  far  more  friendly  to 
digestion. 

Barley  greatly  resembles  rye  in  nutritive  power  and 
solubility,  and  a  little  that  has  been  well  boiled  is  now 
and  then  quite  right  for  a  change  if  it  is  served  with  meat, 
boiled  tripe  or  the  like,  but  any  considerable  quantity  and 
often  is  not  advisable. 

The  starchy  foods  that  are  likely  to  find  their  way  into 
the  diet  of  dogs  have  now  been  considered,  but  before 
leaving  them  there  are  still  a  few  pertinent  facts  to 
be  brought  out,  and  some  already  given  can  properly  be 
reverted  to  for  the  purpose  of  emphasis. 

Notwithstanding  dogs  are  capable  of  digesting  these 
foods  their  powers  are  not  without  limit,  and  beyond  the 
fact  that  they  might  starve  while  yet  their  stomachs  were 
full,  if  too  much  of  them  is  given  not  only  will  a  large 
proportion  pass  out  of  the  body  undigested  but  the  bowels 
will  be  weakened  in  their  efforts  to  dispose  of  them. 

During  early  life  the  power  to  digest  starchy  foods 
increases  with  the  age  —  that  is,  puppies  can  digest  and 
otherwise  properly  dispose  of  a  larger  proportion  compara- 
tively after  they  are  four  or  five  months  old  than  they 
could  in  the  second  and  third  months. 


VEGETABLE  FOODS.  47 

But  throughout  puppyhood  the  evil  effects  of  too  much 
starch  in  the  diet  are  more  pronounced  than  in  mature 
life,  and  they  are  generally  manifested  by  "bloating  "  and 
diarrhoea,  the  results  of  delay  in  the  process  of  digestion 
and  consequent  fermentation  and  generation  of  gas. 

All  this  points  to  one  of  the  most  potent  causes  of  the 
terrible  mortality  among  young  puppies,  which  will  only 
lessen  greatly  when  breeders  learn  that  these  little  ones 
should  have  in  proportion  a  more  generous  quantity  of 
animal  food  —  if  not  milk,  then  meat  —  than  matured 
dogs,  and  that  while  starchy  foods  are  valuable  accesso- 
ries, only  in  extremely  rare  instances  are  they  sufficient 
for  support. 

Starch  is  composed  of  solid  granules  which  are  not 
digestible  until  after  they  have  been  long  cooked  and 
softened  down.  And  it  is  largely  because  this  process 
is  incomplete  that  starchy  foods  so  often  prove  failures  in 
feeding  dogs.  But  let  them  be  cooked  thoroughly  and 
used  judiciously  —  always  with  nutritive  foods  —  and  they 
can  but  prove  useful  and  wholesome  accessories. 

Regarding  the  so-called  "  dog  cakes  "  or  "  dog  biscuits,** 
since  the  first  edition  of  this  book  their  manufacture  has 
become  such  an  industry  and  the  competition  so  great, 
they  are  not  generally  of  a  quality  deserving  commenda- 
tion, as  formerly.  They  are  a  very  good  accessory  food ; 
but  the  claim  that  any  brand  constitutes  or  is  a  near  ap- 
proach to  an  ideal  food  is  a  rank  absurdity.  They  are 
said  to  contain  beef,  and  yet  the  writer  has  never  been  able 
to  find  even  a  trace  of  any  during  his  analyses. 

They  are  practically  bread,  and  possibly  have  nearly  the 
nutritive  value  of  what  is  known  as  "  graham  bread  "  of 
the  table.  Over  that  and  other  breads  they  possess  an 
advantage,  however,  the  result  of  their  being  so  long  and 
thoroughly  cooked.     The    starches  of  which  they  princi- 


48  KENNEL    SECRETS. 

pally  consist  are  thus  put  into  the  best  possible  state  for 
speedy  digestion  and  absorption ;  hence  it  would  be 
scarcely  possible  for  them  to  prove  burdensome  even  were 
the  digestive  organs  somewhat  lacking  in  tone  and  vigor. 
While  in  an  emergency  —  for  a  few  days —  they  could  be 
relied  on  as  the  sole  food,  the  rule  should  be  to  feed  them 
with  other  foods. 

To  dogs  with  good  sound  teeth  they  might  be  given 
whole  occasionally,  but  not  invariably,  nor  to  very  young 
or  old  dogs,  for  their  teeth  would  likely  break  or  be  other- 
wise injured. 

It  should  be  the  custom  to  crush  them ;  and  if  one  has 
not  a  machine  for  the  purpose,  a  good  method  is  to  put 
a  few  into  a  strong  bag  and  pound  them  with  a  mallet  or 
hammer.  Thus  broken  up  well,  they  may  be  used  to 
thicken  milk,  broths,  or  soups,  or  mixed  with  meat. 


CHAPTER   IV. 


DIETARY    FOR    PUPPIES. 


Having  taken  a  general  survey  of  the  range  of  mate- 
rials at  the  command  of  man  for  the  purpose  of  feeding 
his  dogs,  it  is  well  to  return  and,  starting  as  it  were  with 
a  litter  of  puppies  about  leaving  their  mother,  apply  the 
principles  laid  down  in  the  foregoing  chapters. 

The  period  of  weaning  fixed  by  breeders  is  between  the 
fourth  and  fifth  weeks  ;  and  this  seems  in  accord  with  the 
plans  of  Nature,  for  the  milk  secretion  is  then  as  a  rule 
falling  off,  both  in  quality  and  quantity,  and  most  mothers 
give  their  young  other  food  if  their  caretakers  fail  to 
do  so. 

Closely  observe  the  average  mother  that  is  denied  assist- 
ance in  nourishing  her  little  ones  after  her  milk  has  begun 
to  fail  and  she  will  soon  be  detected  in  providing  for  them 
from  her  own  feeding-pan,  conveying  the  same  in  her 
stomach  and  regurgitating  or  vomiting  it  up  before  them. 
And  when  the  puppies  are  so  situated  that  several  experi- 
enced mothers  have  access  to  them,  if  their  own  fails  to  do 
this  the  chances  are  many  that  some  one  of  the  others 
will  assume  the  duty. 

49 


50  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

It  can  safely  be  accepted,  therefore,  that  even  where  the 
milk  supply  seems  abundant  the  weaning  should  be  fairly 
begun  during  the  fourth  week.  But  it  is  never  advisable 
to  wait  until  this  period  is  reached  before  taking  the 
preparatory  steps,  for  exigencies  are  very  liable  indeed 
to  arise  which  make  weaning  imperative  at  once  and 
complete. 

Consequently  in  every  instance  puppies  should  be 
taught  to  eat  at  the  earliest  possible  age,  which  is  soon 
after  the  second  week  where  those  who  assume  the  duty 
are  patient  and  persevering.  And  such  rarely  find  it  diffi- 
cult if  they  put  a  little  milk  into  a  small  shallow  dish 
and  gently  dip  the  tips  of  the  puppies'  noses  into  it  for  an 
instant,  and  then  allow  the  little  ones  to  draw  back  and 
lick  off  what  adheres. 

The  milk  used  in  these  attempts  should  be  scalded, 
diluted  with  an  equal  quantity  of  water,  and  about 
"  blood-warm." 

But  it  is  not  alone  sufficient  to  teach  puppies  to  drink 
milk,  for  they  should  be  accustomed  early  to  the  taste 
of  flesh  ;  and  the  proper  food  to  commence  with  is 
very  thin  broth  made  specially  for  them  from  beef  or 
mutton. 

Of  course,  only  a  little  milk  or  broth  should  be  allowed 
at  first,  —  barely  sufficient  for  the  purpose  for  which  they 
are  used  —  but  in  all  cases,  whether  or  not  the  mother's 
milk  appears  sufficient,  one  of  these  foods  can  properly 
be  given  about  twice  daily  in  the  third  week,  and  in 
gradually  increasing  quantities  up  to  the  weaning. 

To  be  more  definite,  at  each  attempt  about  a  teaspoonful 
of  milk  or  broth  will  be  sufficient  for  educational  pur- 
poses. Once  eating  well,  a  tablespoonful  of  one  of  these 
foods,  if  they  care  to  take  as  much,  may  be  allowed  twice 
daily  for  three  days ;  and  thereafter  about  a  tablespoonful 


DIETARY  FOR   PUPPIES.  51 

more  may  be  added  to  their  allowance  every  second  or 
third  day  until  the  weaning  commences,  assuming  that 
the  mother  is  ample  support,  but  it  goes  without  saying 
that  where  she  fails  the  wants  of  the  puppies  are  to  be 
satisfied. 

Gradual  weaning,  to  cover  about  one  week,  should  be 
the  rule  in  all  cases  that  will  admit  it  —  that  is,  in  all 
cases  in  which  the  mothers  are  secreting  fairly  good  quan- 
tities of  milk.  But  the  period  can  scarcely  be  prolonged 
beyond  this  with  safety,  for  when  a  mother  is  nursed  only 
once  or  twice  in  twenty-four  hours  her  milk  becomes 
altered  and  might  prove  injurious. 

When  it  is  decided  to  wean,  the  mother  should  be 
excluded  from  her  puppies  during  certain  hours  each  day 
and  permitted  to  return  at  fixed  intervals,  between  which 
and  at  fixed  times  they  should  be  fed  on  cow's  milk.  As 
for  instance,  she  should  be  let  out  about  seven  in  the 
morning,  admitted  about  noon  and  allowed  to  nurse  them, 
then  be  excluded  for  another  interval  of  about  five  hours, 
after  which  she  should  be  permitted  to  return  and  care 
for  them  until  the  following  morning.  And  during  her 
absence  they  should  be  fed  between  nine  and  ten  in  the 
forenoon  and  about  three  in  the  afternoon. 

Some  breeders  do  not  exclude  the  mother  while  the 
weaning  is  going  on,  but  their  course  is  open  to  the  objec- 
tion that  too  much  or  too  little  food  is  likely  to  be  taken 
at  times  ;  moreover  an  admixture  of  cow's  milk  and 
mother's  milk  is  not  advisable  when  it  can  be  pre- 
vented, for  together  they  seem  less  well  borne  than 
when  given  separately. 

Two  full  feedings  of  cow's  milk  each  day  are  all  that 
puppies  should  have  during  the  first  three  days  of  the 
weaning,  —  provided  always  that  number  is  quite  suffi- 
cient with  the  quantity  of  milk  afforded  by  the  mother  — 


52  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

but  after  that  they  can  be  fed  three  times  a  day.  For 
instance,  the  mother  being  taken  from  them  at  about 
seven  in  the  morning  and  kept  away  until  night,  they 
should  be  fed  shortly  after  nine,  at  noon  and  about 
three.  Then  three  hours  later  —  about  six  —  the  mother 
should  be  admitted  to  them  to  remain  until  the  follow- 
ing morning,  when  she  should  be  again  excluded  until 
six  at  night. 

While  oftentimes  the  weaning  can  safely  be  delayed 
until  the  fourth  week  —  to  be  completed  during  the 
fifth  —  in  many  instances  it  is  necessary  to  begin  it  in 
the  third  week.  And  this  is  the  rule  with  the  largest 
varieties,  but  comparatively  few  members  of  which  have 
a  great  abundance  of  milk  at  any  time,  while  with 
the  majority  the  supply  declines  soon  after  the  second 
week.  In  fact  breeders  of  these  varieties  must  ever  be 
on  the  alert  and  prepared  for  this  accident,  which 
may  occur  even  earlier  than  this ;  and  it  can  properly 
be  said  that  with  them  the  sooner  the  puppies  learn 
to  eat  and  the  weaning  is  well  advanced  the  better. 

Although  all  puppies  should  be  early  familiarized  with 
the  taste  of  meat  as  already  advised,  during  the  weaning 
they  should  be  fed  on  cow's  milk  that  has  been  scalded. 
And  it  will  not  be  necessary  to  dilute  it  after  they  have 
been  taught  to  take  it  readily. 

The  weaning  over,  and  the  mother  excluded  from  her 
puppies  nights  as  well  as  days,  they  should  as  a  rule  be 
fed  sparingly  every  third  hour  during  waking  hours  —  the 
first  time  at  daylight  and  the  last  at  eight  or  nine  at 
night. 

Scalded  milk  will  do  for  the  first  feeding. 

The  next,  to  be  given  about  eight  a.m.,  should  be  pre- 
pared as  follows  :  Soak  in  water  a  few  pieces  of  stale 
bread  that  have  been  well  baked  the  second  time  until 


DIETARY  FOR  PUPPIES.  53 

they  are  dry  and  crisp,  and  crush  by  squeezing  them 
through  the  fingers.  Pour  over  this  bread  scalding  hot 
milk  to  which  a  little  sugar  and  a  small  piece  of  butter 
have  been  added  ;  or  instead  of  the  bread  well-boiled  rice 
can  be  used,  and  the  same  is  sure  to  be  thoroughly  cooked 
—  but  not  too  much  so  —  if  left  overnight  in  a  "slow 
oven." 

The  feeding  at  eleven  can  properly  be  of  toast  softened 
with  a  little  light  broth. 

At  two,  again  the  scalded  milk  and  bread. 

At  five,  a  little  scalded  milk  alone  will  be  sufficient. 

Scalded  bread  or  rice  and  milk,  or  toast  and  broth, 
should  constitute  the  last  meal.  And  this  and  the  first 
feeding  after  daylight  should  be  somewhat  larger  than 
those  between  them,  but  in  no  instance  should  the  quantity 
be  sufficiejit  to  swell  the  abdomen. 

These  foods  and  these  methods  can  properly  be  per- 
sisted in  during  the  first  week  after  weaning. 

It  is  necessary  to  stop  here  for  a  time  and  discuss  at 
some  length  the  vital  question  of  the  number  of  meals 
daily  for  young  puppies. 

Upon  this  breeders  are  widely  at  variance,  and  some 
maintain  that  for  all  healthy  puppies  three  meals  daily  are 
amply  sufficient  after  the  fifth  or  sixth  week,  while  others 
contend  that  "little  and  often"  should  be  the  invariable 
rule. 

Not  impossibly  a  few  have  had  fairly  good  success  with 
the  three-meals-daily  system,  and  that  it  might  do  in  occa- 
sional instances  with  the  largest  breeds  is  possible,  yet 
there  is  no  gainsaying  that  as  a  general  thing  it  means 
failure.     And  for  this  there  are  many  reasons. 

Were  but  three  meals  a  day  given  the  first  would  be 
presumably  between  seven  and  eight  in  the  morning  and 
the   last    between    six  and  seven  at   night  —  or  at    least 


54  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

these  are  the  hours  set  by  most  of  the  advocates  of  the  sys- 
tem—  and  the  puppies  would  be  without  food  not  less  than 
twelve  hours.  This  would  be  none  too  long  were  they 
allowed  concentrated  and  hearty  foods  that  would  "stay 
by  "  them  during  the  greater  part  of  this  time,  but  their 
digestive  organs  will  not  at  first  bear  food  of  this  sort, 
nor  in  fact  any  other  kind  in  quantity  sufficient  to  occupy 
the  stomach  more  than  two  or  three  hours,  consequently 
long  before  the  morning  feeding  this  organ  must  crave 
food,  and  after  it  begins  to  do  so  the  system  generally 
puffers  from  the  deprivation. 

For  a  time  the  morning  meal  acting  as  a  spur  to  the 
flagging  powers  would  wholly  restore  them,  yet  this  result 
is  scarcely  to  be  expected  always,  for  were  they  to  decline 
regularly  every  night  some  permanent  loss  in  vigor  would 
more  than  likely  occur.  The  stomach,  also,  would  be 
quite  sure  to  rebel  in  time  and  thereafter  do  its  work  less 
promptly  and  well.  Again,  there  deserves  to  be  consid- 
ered the  danger  of  chilling  during  the  long  cold  nights, 
and  this  is  always  the  greatest  where  the  stomach  is 
empty,  for  then  the  fires  of  life  are  burning  low. 

This  hasty  glance  must  be  conclusive  when  coupled 
with  the  knowledge,  which  all  surely  have,  of  the  fact 
that  even  for  the  matured  too  long  intervals  between 
meals  hazard  digestion  and  strength,  and  the  danger  is 
greatly  intensified  where  the  subjects  of  the  deprivation 
are  very  young. 

But  this  is  by  no  means  all  that  can  be  said  in  opposi- 
tion to  the  three-meals-a-day  system.  Follow  that,  and 
give  the  puppies  all  the  food  which  they  require  for  tissue 
and  bone  building,  etc.,  and  they  must  take  more  into 
their  stomachs  at  these  meals  than  they  can  properly 
digest  and  assimilate.  In  a  word,  they  must  gorge  them- 
selves—  and  this  is  one  of  the  most  ruinous  practices  in 
which  they  can  be  indulged. 


DIETARY  FOR   PUPPIES.  55 

Puppies  that  have  done  so  and  weighted  themselves 
down  with  food  are  soon  sleeping,  and  generally  continue 
in  this  state  during  much  of  the  intervals  between  feed- 
ings, or  if  awake  they  are  dull  and  sluggish  and  disin- 
clined to  move  about.  And  assuredly  while  like  this 
their  legs  cannot  be  developing  strength  as  they  ought  ; 
moreover,  their  systems  must  be  choking  up  with  waste 
impurities,  which  inevitably  accumulate  where  the  exer- 
cise is  limited  unless  the  food  is  bland  in  character  and  of 
small  amount. 

It  ought  not  be  necessary  to  urge  that  the  legs  of 
very  young  puppies  are  weak  and  scarcely  able  to  bear 
their  bodies  even.  Now  allow  them  to  fill  up  continually 
with  food  or  drink,  and  deformity  is  quite  sure  to  result. 
And  in  fact  did  a  breeder  desire  his  puppies  to  become 
bandy-legged,  weak  in  the  pasterns  and  badly  placed  at 
the  elbows,  he  could  employ  no  surer  method  to  effect  the 
result  than  stuffing  them  three  times  a  day. 

Every  ounce  of  food  —  every  grain  even  —  is  so  much 
weight  on  the  legs.  Let  this  fact  be  fixed  ;  also,  that 
while  rapid  growth  and  weight  of  body  may  be  to  the 
breeder  a  pleasing  sight,  if  it  passes  over  the  line 
the  limbs  must  suffer  and  symmetry  be  simply  out  of 
the  question. 

Considering  the  matter  intelligently,  on  all  sides,  there 
can  be  but  one  conclusion,  namely,  that  puppies  while  yet 
very  young  should  be  "fed  little  and  often."  They  must 
not  be  fed  until  their  abdomens  are  distended  and  their 
appetites  glutted,  but  they  must  leave  off  eating  while  yet 
ready  for  more.  And  then,  that  their  limbs  may  acquire 
strength  and  the  foods  they  have  eaten  do  them  the 
greatest  good,  they  must  be  kept  as  much  of  the  time  on 
their  feet  and  as  active  as  possible. 

To  this   end  they   should    be  given   shin    bones  from 


$6  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

which  at  first  nearly  every  particle  of  meat  has  been 
scraped  ;  and  on  these  they  will  try  their  teeth,  fight  at 
them,  and  pound  their  little  legs  for  an  hour  or  more,  and 
then  take  a  nap. 

Note  the  difference  between  a  puppy  treated  in  this 
way  and  one  that  is  allowed  to  gorge  himself  three  times  a 
day.  The  latter,  weak  and  tottering,  drags  his  distended 
abdomen  into  a  corner  and  sleeps  his  time  away  on  top 
of  another  like  himself ;  but  the  former  soon  stands  true 
and  firm  ;  instead  of  sleeping  he  is  all  for  play,  and  young 
as  he  is  he  is  biting  and  tugging  at  everything  within 
his  reach. 

This  puppy  will  grow  straight  and  strong  on  his  legs 
and  upright  in  his  pasterns ;  moreover,  from  his  food  he 
will  extract  its  greatest  good  ;  and,  in  a  word,  he  will  in 
a  short  time  be  far  ahead  of  the  other  and  top-heavy 
puppy. 

Never  feed  all  together  is  another  rule  which  should  be 
fixed  at  once  after  the  weaning.  Ignore  this  and  the 
puppies  will  rarely  ever  take  just  the  right  quantities,  for 
the  stronger  will  push  the  weaker  aside.  And  another 
point  to  be  kept  in  sight  is,  that  when  fed  with  others 
a  puppy  not  only  eats  what  he  needs  but  he  eats  what 
he  fancies  others  are  going  to  take  from  him,  whereas  if 
fed  quietly  by  himself  he  is  likely  to  stop  when  he  has 
had  just  a  little  more  than  he  actually  requires  —  yet  not 
enough  to  injure  him  and  throw  him  all  out  of  shape. 
But  now  take  this  same  puppy  after  he  has  had  his  fill 
and  put  him  with  others  that  are  eating,  and  he  will  go 
into  the  pan  as  though  ravenously  hungry. 

The  novice  may  accept  without  qualification  that  these 
rules  —  feed  little  and  often,  and  feed  separately  —  are 
the  two  greatest  secrets  of  success  in  puppy  raising. 
And  certainly  it  is  not   hard   to   believe  this,  for  every 


DIETARY  FOR  PUPPIES.  57 

breeder  knows  that  the  puppy  that  leaves  him  soon  after 
the  weaning  and  goes  into  a  home  where  he  is  the  sole 
pet  of  his  kind  —  if  the  diet  and  management  are  nearly 
equal  —  is  sure  to  do  better  than  other  members  of  the 
litter  that  remain  in  the  kennels. 

The  reasons  for  this  are  apparent.  He  has  far  more 
exercise  in  his  new  home,  and  if  there  are  children  in  it 
he  is  sure  to  be  "kept  on  the  go."  He  is  played  with, 
pulled  by  the  tail,  dragged  around,  —  in  fact  led  a  lively 
dance  by  these  little  ones,  —  and  full  of  frolic,  a  short 
nap  now  and  then  is  all  he  gets  or  all  he  cares  for.  He  is 
rarely  fed  regularly  or  with  exceeding  care,  it  is  true,  and 
besides  his  scraps  from  the  table  he  has  a  bit  of  the 
children's  cake  or  their  molasses  and  bread,  helps  the 
cat  empty  her  saucers  of  milk,  and  so  on,  but  he  really 
never  gets  very  much  of  anything.  Yet  ever  on  the 
move,  bright,  merry  and  full  of  fun,  and  with  a  little 
something  always  in  his  stomach,  he  grows  like  a  weed 
and  as  strong  as  a  young  lion. 

All  this  is  in  favor  of  "  walking  "  as  it  is  called  abroad, 
but  "  boarding  out  "  as  expressed  here,  and  the  breeder 
who  resorts  to  this  plan  with  the  puppies  which  he  cannot 
sell  readily  is  sure  to  have  far  better  success  in  raising 
than  he  who  keeps  all  his  young  stock  in  the  kennels,  pro- 
vided always  the  "walking"  is  in  pure  air,  as  in  the  open 
country,  and  where  there  is  an  abundance  of  milk  and 
light  foods,  as  on  farms. 

Some  of  the  most  pronounced  reasons  for  the  advisa- 
bility of  feeding  little  and  often  have  now  been  given 
against  the  three-meals-daily  system.  Much  more  might 
be  said  to  sustain  the  position  taken  on  this  question,  but 
it  is  not  necessary  to  go  farther.  In  the  absence  of  exer- 
cise all  those  sovereign  essentials,  health,  good  limbs  and 
good  feet,  are  impossible  for  young  puppies ;  consequently 


58  KENNEL  SECRETS. 

it  must  be  encouraged  and  they  must  be  put  on  their 
feet  at  the  earliest  moment  and  kept  on  them  as  much  as 
possible. 

The  reader  will  now  be  taken  back  to  the  litter  of 
puppies  which  were  left  in  the  first  week  after  the  wean- 
ing. And  that  there  may  be  no  mistake  it  is  urged  that 
these  puppies  be  given  until  the  tenth  week  the  same 
number  of  meals  and  at  about  the  same  hours  as  directed 
in  the  week  following  the  weaning  —  the  fifth  week.  If 
then  they  are  straight  and  strong  on  their  legs  the  num- 
ber of  meals  may  be  reduced  to  four,  and  kept  at  that 
until  the  fifth  month.  But  this  reduction  must  not  be 
made  as  long  as  there  is  any  deformity  of  the  feet  or  legs, 
or  any  seems  threatened. 

From  the  fifth  month  until  the  tenth  month  the  pup- 
pies should  have  three  meals  daily  ;  and  thereafter  two 
will  be  sufficient. 

Having  been  fed  on  well-baked  stale  bread  and  rice  and 
milk,  toast  and  light  broths,  for  about  one  week,  these 
puppies,  assuming  that;  they  are  other  than  toys,  should 
have  —  even  as  early  as  the  beginning  of  the  sixth  week 
—  more  concentrated  and  heartier  food.  Therefore  a 
sheep's  head  which  has  been  split  lengthwise,  or,  if  this 
cannot  be  obtained,  lean  meat,  should  be  cooked  with 
vegetables,  as  potatoes,  beets,  carrots  or  cabbage  leaves, 
and  the  whole  seasoned  with  a  little  salt.  After  a  thor- 
ough boiling  the  vegetables,  meat  and  bones  should  be 
removed  and  the  broth  thickened  to  the  consistency  of 
pea  soup  by  the  means  of  well-baked  stale  bread,  rice, 
or  a  flour  made  by  grating  one  or  more  dog  cakes  on  a 
nutmeg  grater. 

This  should  be  given  them  for  about  a  week ;  and  con- 
venience suggests  that  it  be  their  food  at  eleven  and  the 
last  thing  at  night,  and  that  their  breakfasts  be  of  scalded 


DIETARY  FOR   PUPPIES.  59 

milk  and  bread  or  rice ;  while  for  the  feedings  at  eight  in 
the  morning  and  two  and  five  in  the  afternoon  a  little 
scalded  milk  alone  will  be  sufficient. 

By  the  next,  or  about  the  seventh,  week  the  puppies 
will  be  old  enough  to  eat  the  vegetables  and  meat  from 
which  the  broth  is  made ;  and  these  after  having  been 
thoroughly  cooked  should  be  taken  out  and  broken  up 
with  the  fingers  or  crushed  to  a  paste  in  a  mortar,  and 
returned  to  the  kettle. 

This  vegetable  and  meat  soup  can  be  given  at  the  same 
hours  as  the  light  broth  in  the  previous  week  —  that  is, 
at  eleven  and  the  last  thing  at  night  ;  while  scalded  milk 
with  bread  or  rice  should  constitute  the  breakfasts,  and 
scalded  milk  alone  the  other  feedings. 

At  this  age  —  about  the  seventh  week  —  it  is  advisable 
to  fortify  the  food  of  the  puppies  of  the  largest  breeds,  as 
mastiffs  and  St.  Bernards,  with  bone-making  material  in 
the  form  of  precipitated  phosphate  of  lime  —  against  the 
occurrence  of  rickets  or  bone  deficiencies  of  a  kindred 
nature.  For  every  four  puppies  one  teaspoonful  of  this 
should  be  given  once  a  day  in  the  food  —  with  the  last 
meal  —  in  all  instances  even  if  suspicious  signs  of 
deformity  have  not  appeared  ;  while  where  such  signs 
are  manifested  the  lime  should  at  once  be  given  twice 
every  day,  and  in  steadily  increasing  doses  until  each 
puppy  is  taking  half  a  teaspoonful.  And  it  will  Ije  well 
to  persist  in  the  use  of  the  lime,  once  a  day  at  least,  for 
three  months  whether  or  not  it  seems  required. 

Up  to  this  time  the  puppies  have  been  given  shin  bones 
from  which  the  meat  has  been  scraped.  Now  all  the 
large  ones  —  also  nearly  cleaned  —  that  are  taken  from 
the  soup  should  be  thrown  into  their  yards  after  break- 
fast, but  the  small  pieces,  sharp  splinters,  etc.,  must  be 
withheld,  for  they  might   choke  them.      It  will    be   well, 


e>0  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

also,  to  give  them  occasionally  an  uncooked  bone  to 
which  a  little  meat  is  so  firmly  adherent  that  they  can- 
not detach  it  except  by  much  hard  work,  that  they  may 
acquire  early  a  fondness  for  raw  meat,  which  is  often  dis- 
tasteful to  them  at  first. 

After  they  are  two  months  old  their  vegetable  and  meat 
soups  should  be  made  quite  thick,  and  for  this  purpose 
stale  well-baked  bread,  rice  or  a  little  oatmeal  that  has 
been  "  cooked  on  honor,"  may  be  employed.  Or  dog 
cakes  can  be  used  for  occasional  change,  but  these  be- 
ing dense  and  hard  it  will  be  necessary  to  soften  them 
by  soaking  in  cold  water  for  several  hours  —  preferably 
overnight  —  and  then,  after  crushing  with  the  fingers,  to 
put  them  into  the  kettle  to  boil  with  the  other  ingredients 
of  the  soup. 

But  whatever  the  foods  resorted  to  for  the  purpose  of 
thickening,  in  the  last  feeding  at  night  the  proportion 
of  meat  should  be  one-fourth  —  that  is,  there  should  be  no 
more  than  three  parts  of  vegetables  and  starches  to  one  .of 
meat.  And  very  soon  it  will  be  advisable  to  remove  the 
meat  and  vegetables  from  the  soup,  and,  after  mixing 
them  with  stale  bread,  crackers,  rice  or  other  well-cooked 
starchy  food,  use  merely  sufficient  broth  to  soften  the 
various  ingredients. 

After  the  second  month,  puppies  of  the  largest  varie- 
ties should  have  a  little  cod-liver  oil  in  their  teed  at 
eleven,  each  puppy's  portion  being  about  one-fourth  of  a 
teaspoonful  at  first.  And  as  this  oil  is  laxative  in  over- 
doses it  will  be  necessary  to  have  an  eye  to  the  droppings ; 
but  if  no  effect  on  the  bowels  is  noted  the  dose  can  be 
gradually  increased  to  a  teaspoonful,  and  after  a  short 
time  repeated  at  the  last  meal  —  at  night. 

It  is  well  to  advert  here  to  the  notion  held  by  many  that 
young  puppies  should  have  "  sloppy  "  food  until  they  are 


DIETARY  FOR  PUPPIES.  6 1 

three  or  four  months  old.  But  this  is  a  grave  mistake, 
and  were  it  not  enough  that  at  least  two  feedings  of  thick 
concentrated  foods  are  absolutely  demanded  for  support, 
structure-building,  etc.,  there  is  still  another  important 
reason  for  feeding  puppies  on  them  instead  of  always  on 
milk  and  thin  broths.  No  one  needs  to  be  told  that  these 
little  ones  are  extremely  liable  to  be  infested  with  worms 
soon  after  birth,  and  that  if  the  pests  are  once  lodged  in 
their  intestines,  unless  quickly  expelled  there  are  many 
chances  of  their  proving  fatal. 

Now,  sloppy  foods  greatly  favor  worms,  but  solid  foods 
are  hostile  to  them,  because  they  force  them,  mechanic- 
ally, to  break  their  hold  on  the  mucous  lining  of  the 
intestines  to  which  they  cling,  and  gradually  sweep  them 
down  the  canal  out  of  the  body.  Consequently  for  this 
reason,  if  for  no  other,  it  is  advisable  that  thick  foods  be 
given  at  as  early  an  age  as  possible. 

En  passant,  it  is  well  to  allude  briefly  to  that  ancient 
theory  that  "  raw  cow's  milk  "  is  conducive  to  worms.  It 
certainly  cannot  cause  worms,  but  there  is  ample  reason 
for  the  belief  that  it  favors  their  growth  or  at  least  is  not 
unfriendly  to  them.  It  furnishes  ample  nourishment  for 
their  support,  and  at  the  same  time  they  are  in  no  way 
unpleasantly  affected  by  it.  Beyond  this,  raw  cow's  milk 
is  really  not  kindly  received  by  a  puppy's  stomach,  in  the 
lining  of  which  it  causes  more  or  less  irritation,  which  in 
turn  results  in  an  increased  secretion  of  mucus,  and  this 
mucus  is  supposed  to  be  the  repository  of  the  ova  or  eggs 
from  which  the  worms  are  propagated. 

In  using  vegetables  the  fact  must  be  kept  in  sight  that 
they  deteriorate  with  keeping,  and  while  some  become  hard 
and  stringy  and  therefore  much  less  digestible,  others  are 
soon  absolutely  unfit  for  man  or  dogs.  The  so-called 
greens  should  be  as  fresh  as  possible ;  the  potatoes  must 


62  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

not  be  too  young  nor  too  old  ;  and  the  carrots,  turnips, 
beets  and  the  like,  always  in  good  state  of  preservation. 
The  cabbage  while  yet  sound  and  wholesome  is  soft  but 
crisp,  but  when  the  leaves  have  wilted  fermentation  has 
occurred  in  them  and  they  are  most  noxious,  causing 
among  other  disturbances  the  generation  of  an  enormous 
amount  of  gas  in  the  intestinal  canal. 

It  must  also  be  borne  in  mind  that  a  large  proportion 
of  these  substances  are  more  or  less  laxative  in  their 
action,  consequently  the  droppings  must  be  watched  to 
determine  whether  or  not  they  are  wisely  used.  And 
they,  like  all  other  foods,  should  be  varied  frequently, 
mashed  turnips  being  in  excess  of  other  vegetables  in  one 
evening  meal,  potatoes  in  the  next,  perhaps,  and  so  on 
down  the  list,  not  omitting  cabbages,  which  when  long 
and  well  boiled,  minced  fine  and  thoroughly  mixed  with 
meat,  can  generally  be  used  to  advantage  once  or  twice  a 
week. 

And  it  goes  without  saying  that  should  constipation  be 
noted  it  will  be  advisable  to  increase  the  quantity  of  the 
"  greens,"  they  being  the  most  laxative,  while  if  the 
bowels  become  too  free  the  use  of  all  vegetables  should 
be  discontinued  for  a  time  and  milk  and  bread  or  rice  con- 
stitute the  nourishment. 

What  is  known  as  flour  gruel  is  the  remedy  to  check 
the  discharges,  and  this  is  made  by  boiling  wheat  flour 
long  and  well  in  skimmed  milk ;  or  the  flour  can  be  baked 
in  an  oven  until  it  has  turned  a  light  brown  and  then 
added  to  boiling  milk,  and  given  without  further  cooking 
as  soon  as  it  has  cooled.  And  in  both  instances  sufficient 
flour  should  be  used  to  thicken  the  milk  to  the  consist- 
ency of  oatmeal  porridge. 

It  is  not  merely  sufficient  to  fill  the  stomach  of  a  puppy 
or  mature  dog,   or   in  other  words  to   supply  in   proper 


DIETARY  FOR   PUPPIES.  63 

amount  that  one  substance  which  best  meets  his  require- 
ments, for  there  is  risk  of  falling  off  in  condition  unless 
different  substances  of  the  same  classes  are  employed  in 
rotation.  Therefore  breeders  should  hold  variety  in  diet 
of  importance  to  health ;  and  they  may  accept  that  when 
it  is  afforded,  not  only  the  appetite  but  the  digestive 
powers  are  better  for  it. 

Admitting  all  this,  one  soup  will  be  made  of  beef ;  the 
next  of  mutton  ;  then  one  of  veal,  fish  or  other  animal 
food.  At  the  same  time,  while  duly  appreciating  that  an 
admixture  of  several  kinds  of  vegetables  will  make  the 
soup  more  wholesome,  nutritious  and  appetizing,  as 
already  advised  a  different  kind  will  be  a  little  in  excess 
every  day.  And  so  it  will  be  with  the  starchy  foods, 
bread  being  largely  relied  upon  for  thickening  one  day, 
oatmeal  the  next,  then  dog  cakes,  rice,  etc. 

Thus  varying  the  diet  and  carefully  noting  the  effects 
of  every  change,  a  good  sound  dietary  can  soon  be  estab- 
lished, with  the  assurance  that  among  the  various  foods 
there  will  be  all  the  important  elements  required  for 
tissue-building,  strength  and  renovation  ;  or  in  other 
words,  for  growth,  vigor  and  health. 

Beef  and  mutton  will  furnish  variety  enough  in  the  way 
of  animal  food  for  puppies  until  they  are  three  months 
old  ;  after  which  veal  and  fish  can  be  added  to  the  list  of 
materials,  and  no  further  additions  need  be  made  from 
this  class  of  foods  during  the  next  two  months.  Then  a 
bit  of  tripe,  well  boiled  in  milk  and  minced,  may  be  given 
now  and  then  if  well  borne.  But  all  additions  must  be 
experimental  and  made  gradually,  for  although  they  may 
be  in  the  right  direction  the  stomach  in  some  instances 
will  require  time  to  conform  to  them. 

The  milk  can  properly  be  scalded  during  the  first  two  or 
three  months,  but  after  that  it  will  scarcely. require  this 
treatment  and  can  be  s-iven  "raw." 


64  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

At  the  fifth  month,  when  the  number  of  feedings  is 
reduced  to  three  daily,  milk  and  bread  in  sufficient  quan- 
tity to  meet  all  requirements  cannot  safely  be  given  for 
breakfast,  for  fear  of  putting  too  great  weight  upon  the 
limbs;  consequently  thereafter  good  rich  soups  or  quite 
solid  feedings  of  vegetables,  meat  and  bread,  rice  or  other 
starchy  food,  should  generally  be  given  instead,  although 
the  milk  and  bread,  rice  or  oatmeal  may  still  be  allowed 
for  a  change. 

But  if  the  puppies  are  of  medium-size  breeds  and  strong 
and  healthy,  after  the  eighth  month,  when  generous  feed- 
ing is  not  likely  to  lessen  activity  and  discourage  exercise, 
and  there  is  no  longer  any  danger  of  injury  to  the  legs 
and  feet  by  heavy  weight  above,  milk  can  be  returned 
to  as  the  mainstay  for  breakfast ;  and  it  may  be  new  or 
skimmed  milk  or  buttermilk,  and  allowed  in  quite  gener- 
ous quantities,  with  bread  or  dog  cakes  for  thickening. 

With  large  dogs,  however,  these  generous  feedings  of 
milk  or  like  foods  can  scarcely  be  safely  allowed  before 
the  twelfth  month,  because  even  then  there  is  danger  of 
their  "going  over  on  their  legs."  And  certainly  such 
feedings,  or  generous  drinks  of  any  fluids,  must  never 
be  permitted  if  there  is  weakness  of  the  limbs,  splay  feet 
or  other  deformities  below. 


CHAPTER   V. 

GENERAL    DIETARY. 

The  reader  ought  now  have  a  near  idea  of  the  dietetic 
treatment  required  by  the  average  puppy,  which  is  to  be 
found  among  all  varieties  excepting  toys  and  others  that 
must  be  kept  down  to  certain  weights,  fixed  by  standards, 
in  order  to  be  able  to  compete  in  their  various  classes  at 
dog  shows.  In  other  words  he  is  a  puppy  to  whom  size, 
health,  strength  and  endurance  are  essentials  of  infinite 
importance. 

Among  the  so-called  toys  there  are  some  fairly  robust, 
but  taken  as  a  whole  they  must  be  considered  delicate 
compared  with  other  members  of  their  race,  while  some 
are  notoriously  lacking  constitutionally.  And  this  is  due 
to  the  persistent  efforts  to  get  the  smallest,  but  not,  as 
some  writers  have  stated,  to  a  persistent  selection  of  the 
smallest  for  breeding,  for  as  a  matter  of  fact  only  a  very 
few  of  the  smallest  toys  will  breed. 

Obviously  no  one  rule  can  be  fixed  for  these  varieties, 
and  the  limits  of  the  digestive  powers  must  be  carefully 
studied  in  every  instance  and  the  feeding  be  in  accord- 
ance with  them. 

65 


66  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

For  most  puppies  of  toy  breeds  new  milk  must  be 
the  principal  food  during  the  month  after  weaning,  and 
this  can  be  occasionally  thickened  slightly  with  bread, 
crackers  or  well-boiled  rice.  Mutton  or  beef  broths  can 
then  be  allowed,  but  in  the  beginning  they  must  be  as 
thin  and  as  sparingly  used  as  in  cases  of  infants  taking 
them  for  the  first  time. 

To  feed  only  a  very  little  and  very  often  must  be  the 
rule  with  the  smallest  of  these,  and  once  in  an  hour  and  a 
half  will  be  near  right  for  about  a  month  after  weaning. 
Then  a  trifle  longer  intervals  will  be  allowable,  but  they 
must  be  very  slowly  and  gradually  lengthened,  for  even 
when  mature  toys  should  have  food  several  times  in  the 
day. 

In  feeding  toys  and  other  varieties  which  it  is  desirable 
to  keep  down  in  weight  breeders  must  have  before  them 
the  fact  that  the  animal  foods,  milk  and  meat,  alone  and 
uncombined  with  other  substances,  tend  to  produce  firm- 
ness of  flesh  with  an  absence  of  superfluous  fat ;  while 
on  the  other  hand  vegetable  foods,  and  particularly  the 
starches,  favor  the  laying  on  of  fat.  They  must  also 
bear  in  mind  that  animal  foods  abound  in  the  materials 
for  bone  and  muscle  building;  and  while  in  moderate 
quantities  they  do  but  little  more  than  meet  the  wear  and 
tear  of  the  body  and  keep  the  muscles  firm  and  complete, 
if  they  are  given  in  excess  they  tend  decidedly  to  increase 
the  size  of  the  bony  structure  and  amount  of  muscle  or 
flesh. 

That  there  may  be  no  mistake  these  physiological  facts 
are  simplified  and  dressed  for  practice  :  Give  puppies  the 
animal  foods,  meat  and  milk,  in  moderate  quantities  only 
and  they  will  be  likely  to  keep  down  in  bone  and  muscle ; 
give  them  vegetable  foods  in  large  quantities  and  the  ten- 
dency will  be  merely  to  fatten ;  give  animal  foods  in  large 


ijJL,ooi>Hor:xi»». 


"  BTJRGriVDT. 


•  Jl'IHTH. 


'.|ki 


GENERAL  DIETARY.  6/ 

quantities  and  the  chances  are  many  that  the  puppies 
so  fed  will  in  consequence  increase  rapidly  in  bone  and 
muscle. 

Evidently,  therefore,  in  order  that  puppies  may  be  kept 
down  in  weight  and  size  and  still  be  strong  and  healthy 
their  breeders  must  feed  with  exceeding  nicety.  They 
must  rely  largely  upon  milk,  and  the  quantity  of  this  even 
must  be  restricted  as  nearly  as  possible  to  the  actual 
requirements  of  the  body  as  it  then  stands,  for  excess 
would  favor  increase  in  the  size  of  the  frame  and 
amount  of  flesh. 

But  even  in  large  quantities  milk  does  not  tend  to  fat- 
ten if  deprived  of  its  cream,  yet  this  is  the  specially  force- 
producing  part,  and  were  milk  largely  depended  upon,  to 
deny  very  young  puppies  this  part  would  be  to  invite 
weakness  and  frailties  beyond  those  they  inherited. 
Therefore  it  would  be  better  to  give  them  new  milk 
for  the  first  month  or  two,  and  when  they  are  strong 
and  active  —  that  is  for  their  kind  —  use  skimmed  milk 
or  buttermilk  largely ;  and  they  can  generally  be  safely 
allowed  these  at  frequent  intervals.  But  it  must  be 
little  and  often  even  with  milk,  and  a  fairly  large  quan- 
tity during  the  day  ;  and  on  no  account  should  they  be 
given  a  large  quantity  at  any  one  feeding. 

All  this  bears  as  well  on  other  varieties  that  must  be 
kept  down  in  size  and  weight  in  order  to  be  able  to  pass 
under  the  standard.  Their  food  must  be  principally  ani- 
mal —  milk  or  meat  —  and  what  starchy  substances  are 
given  them  must  be  reduced  in  quantity  as  soon  as  they 
put  on  too  much  fat ;  while  too  rapid  growth  in  frame  and 
muscle  will  call  for  a  reduction  in  the  quantity  of  animal 
food,  and  especially  the  meat. 

As  for  the  use  of  vegetables,  the  safest  rule  is  to  allow 
them   only  such  as  grow  above  ground,  as   spinach  and 


68  KENNEL  SECRETS. 

Other  "greens,"  lettuce,  nettle  tops,  squash,  etc.,  for  those 
from  below  the  ground,  as  potatoes,  carrots,  beets  and  the 
like  are  decidedly  fattening. 

Returning  to  delicate  toys  and  considering  them  with- 
out reference  to  ages,  the  fact  appears  that  those  with 
long  coats,  as  Yorkshires  and  Maltese  terriers,  cannot 
bear  much  meat  because  of  its  stimulating  properties,  and 
when  given  in  excess  it  not  only  tends  to  create  internal 
derangement  and  disease  but  "heats  up  their  blood." 
This  condition  in  turn  excites  skin  affections,  especially 
those  attended  with  intense  itching,  and  has  a  ruinous 
effect  on  the  coat.  And  the  same  evils  of  excess  of  meat 
appear  in  some  of  the  short-coated  toys  —  the  black-and- 
tan  terriers,  for  instance  —  in  which  such  skin  diseases 
are  never  easily  cured. 

But  while  toy  terriers  are  easily  injured  by  excess  of 
meat  they  must  not  be  deprived  of  this  food,  and  although 
much  of  it  may  be  in  the  form  of  broths  or  extracts,  —  as 
the  "  blood  gravy  "  from  roast  beef  or  mutton  —  under 
ordinary  conditions  they  should  have  one  of  these  meats 
at  least  once  a  day. 

New  milk  should  constitute  their  breakfasts,  luncheons 
in  the  middle  of  the  afternoon,  and  the  last  meal  at  bed- 
time —  late  in  the  evening  —  if  one  is  allowed  them. 

Fresh  tripe  that  has  been  boiled  in  milk  and  then 
chopped  fine  is  very  acceptable  to  these  little  ones,  and 
mixed  with  a  small  quantity  of  boiled  barley  —  the  same 
being  softened  with  a  little  of  the  milk  in  which  the  tripe 
was  boiled  —  does  nicely  for  the  feeding  in  the  middle  of 
the  forenoon. 

Bread  cut  thin  and  buttered  is  suitable  for  a  change 
and  may  be  given  occasionally  to  all  that  like  it,  the 
slices  being  broken  into  small  pieces  and  fed  from  the 
hand. 


GENERAL  DIETARY.  69 

For  the  heartiest  meal  of  the  day  —  at  about  six  p.m. — 
boiled  rice  should  be  the  principal  constituent.  Over  this 
should  be  poured  a  little  gravy,  and  then  should  be  added 
about  one-third  as  much  finely  chopped  beef  or  mutton  as 
there  is  rice,  also  a  small  quantity  of  vegetables,  and  all 
the  ingredients  be  thoroughly  mixed. 

For  a  change,  bread,  plain  crackers,  "tea  sops,"  beef  or 
mutton  broth,  and  scraps  from  the  table  if  they  are  free 
from  grease  and  pungent  condiments,  as  pepper  and 
mustard. 

Of  this  diet,  which  is  as  well  suited  to  other  toys  which 
have  but  little  out-door  exercise,  a  more  extended  dis- 
cussion will  appear  in  the  part  devoted  to  "  Exhibiting 
Dogs." 

It  is  unnecessary  to  consider  at  length  the  diet  of  short- 
coated  toys,  as  Italian  greyhounds,  for  theirs  should  be 
much  the  same  as  terriers  ;  but  being  less  susceptible  to 
meat  rather  more  of  it  can  be  allowed  them  —  yet  not 
nearly  the  quantity  which  would  be  safe  for  hardier 
breeds. 

As  to  the  quantity  of  food  that  should  be  given  pup- 
pies at  each  feeding,  without  considering  variety,  no  rule 
can  be  fixed  other  than  that  already  laid  down  —  little  and 
often.  And  manifestly  keen  observation  must  be  backed 
with  no  small  amount  of  common  sense  or  one  will  stray 
at  this  point,  for  he  must  see  that  his  puppies  keep  in 
good  "  growing  flesh,"  he  must  never  feed  so  little  as  to 
leave  them  crying  from  hunger,  and  he  must  stop  while 
yet  they  might  eat  more. 

Beginners  in  puppy-raising  should  start  with  the  con- 
viction that  the  tendency  of  almost  every  inexperienced 
person  is  to  overfeed  ;  also,  that  the  appetite  of  puppies 
cannot  be  considered  a  safe  indication  of  the  quantity  of 
food  actually  required  by  them.     Appreciating  these  facts 


70  KENNEL  SECRETS. 

they  must  study  their  charges  closely,  and  if  they  do  so 
intelligently,  afterward  apply  judiciously  what  they  have 
learned,  feed  always  little  and  often,  stop  before  there  is 
any  distention  of  the  abdomen,  and  keep  their  puppies  on 
their  legs  and  moving  about  as  much  as  possible,  they 
will  not  be  at  all  likely  to  make  any  grave  mistakes  in 
this  part  of  their  duty. 

When  thick  foods  are  given  them  and  their  yards  are 
flagged  or  concreted  and  frequently  flushed  and  kept 
clean,  puppies  —  no  matter  how  young  they  are  — 
should  be  made  to  work  for  their  meals  by  the  follow- 
ing method  : 

Measure  out  the  quantity  of  food  which  is  to  be 
allowed  two  puppies  for  that  meal.  Assuming  it  to  be 
bread  or  rice  and  a  taste  of  sheep's  head  or  well-boiled 
tripe,  throw  them  down  just  a  little.  After  eating  that 
they  will  at  once  hunt  around  for  more.  Let  them  hunt 
for  a  while,  and  then  throw  down  a  little  more  —  being 
careful  that  each  puppy  has  an  equal  share.  Continue  to 
do  this  until  the  supply  of  food  is  exhausted. 

Now  when  these  puppies  are  put  into  that  yard  again 
they  will  at  once  begin  to  go  over  it  for  food  ;  and  the 
more  industrious  they  are  the  stronger  they  will  be  on 
their  legs  and  the  better  they  will  thrive. 

Before  leaving  puppy  feeding  a  few  general  rules  will 
be  given  for  the  guidance  of  novices. 

Never  leave  in  the  pens  or  yards  any  other  food  than 
bones.  In  other  words  consider  the  duty  of  feeding  your 
puppies  an  important  one,  stand  over  them  while  they  are 
eating,  determine  the  quantity  of  food  that  is  sufficient, 
afterward  measure  out  like  quantity  and  give  them  that 
and  no  more. 

Wash  your  pans  as  soon  as  you  have  fed. 

When  feeding  long-coated  toys  tie  back  the  long  hair  of 


GENERAL  DIETARY.  /I 

the  head  lest  it  become  soiled  and  unhealthy  and  break  at 
the  ends. 

Use  care  in  feeding  an  Irish  water  spaniel  or  poodle, 
for  instance,  lest  his  long  and  heavily  coated  ears  get  inta 
the  feeding  dish  and  become  bedabbled  with  food. 

The  first  thought  of  the  novice  would  be  to  tie  or  other- 
wise fasten  the  ears  behind  the  head,  but  the  experienced 
fancier  —  he  who  is  familiar  with  the  secrets  of  the  kennel 
—  would  have  jars  for  feeding  and  watering  that  were  just 
large  enough  to  admit  the  dog's  head  comfortably,  and 
the  ears  must  then,  of  course,  fall  outside  of  the  same  and 
no  food  or  water  could  possibly  get  on  to  them. 

See  to  it  that  the  scraps  you  feed  from  the  table  are  free 
from  pungent  condiments,  as  pepper,  mustard  and  vine- 
gar or  other  acids.  And  this  rule  should  be  invariably 
observed  with  the  delicate  toys  even  after  they  have 
reached  maturity. 

With  the  common  varieties  of  young  puppies  be  spar- 
ing in  the  use  of  corn  meal,  and  never  give  it  to  the  toys 
whose  blood  is  easily  "heated  up." 

Keep  puppies  well  supplied  with  good,  wholesome  drink- 
ing  water,  and  at  the  earliest  possible  age  teach  them  tO' 
take  advantage  of  it. 

Now  to  the  feeding  of  mature  dogs.  With  only  one- 
small  dog  in  a  fairly  large  family  the  "scraps"  from  the 
table,  consisting  of  trimmings  and  pieces  of  stale  bread' 
softened  with  a  little  gravy,  a  few  spoonfuls  of  vegetables 
and  small  bits  of  meat  should  be  ample  and  eminently 
suitable  for  his  support ;  but  if  the  dog  is  of  a  large  size 
and  the  family  small,  or  there  are  several  dogs  belonging 
to  it,  this  supply  would  scarcely  meet  the  demand.  Did  it 
nearly  do  so,  however,  dog  cakes  might  be  used  to  fill  the 
measure,  and  they  could  be  depended  upon  for  breakfasts, 
and  given  alone  and  unbroken  or  crushed  and  softened 
with  milk  or  broth. 


72  KENNEL  SECRETS. 

Here  the  fact  intrudes  that  keeping  one  dog  in  the 
house  and  a  dozen  or  more  in  kennels  are  entirely 
different  matters.  The  former  fed  on  "scraps,"  running 
around  at  will  and  enjoying  a  trot  with  first  one  and  then 
another  member  of  the  family,  is  nearly  always  in  good 
condition.  But  when  it  comes  to  managing  a  large  kennel 
a  knowledge  is  required  that  the  man  who  only  knows  how 
to  keep  a  dog  in  the  city  does  not  possess.  In  fact  one  dog 
in  a  family  will  literally  keep  himself,  but  with  those  in 
the  kennels  good  judgment,  constant  care  and  precision 
of  methods  are  absolutely  imperative  or  the  inmates  will 
.soon  be  out  of  condition. 

The  "  scraps  "  and  dog  cakes  insufficient,  and  it  being 
necessary  to  prepare  food  specially  for  several  large  dogs, 
some  such  custom  as  the  following  may  wisely  be  insti- 
tuted during  cold  weather :  Put  one  pailful  of  beef  trim- 
mings into  a  kettle  and  add  two  and  one-half  pailfuls  of 
water,  a  few  potatoes,  turnips,  beets,  carrots,  parsnips,  or 
the  like,  not  forgetting  two  or  three  onions,  which  in  small 
quantities  are  appetizing  to  dogs  as  well  as  man.  All 
this  should  be  seasoned  with  two  good  handfuls  of  salt. 
And  salt,  by  the  way,  should  always  be  added  to  broths, 
"puddings  "  and  all  other  kinds  of  foods  which  man  would 
wish  seasoned  were  they  for  him.  Now  let  it  simmer  for 
several  hours  ;  and  when  well  cooked,  crush  the  vegetables 
and  break  up  the  meat. 

Assuming  that  there  is  enough  food  here  for  two  sup- 
pers, on  the  second  day  boil  up  one  or  two  cabbages  until 
they  are  soft,  a  pinch  of  carbonate  of  soda  being  added  to 
the  water,  mince  well  and  add  them  to  the  food  left  over 
the  previous  day. 

Cabbages  when  given  in  considerable  quantity  as  in 
this  instance  should  be  boiled  alone,  not  with  the  meat, 
for  they  make  broth  insipid. 


GENERAL   DIETARY.  73 

It  now  being  necessary  to  cook  again,  this  time  it  will  be 
well  to  obtain  fresh  fish  instead  of  meat,  and  use  vegeta- 
bles in  cooking  as  before.  But  as  fish  changes  quickly 
and  soon  becomes  poisonous,  only  suflEicient  for  one  meal 
should  be  cooked. 

On  the  fourth  day  again  cook  beef  or  mutton  with  vege- 
tables. Put  away  enough  of  the  soup  for  the  next  night, 
and  to  what  is  retained  add  bread,  rice,  oatmeal,  Indian 
meal  or  the  like. 

The  next  day  thicken  the  soup  left  over  with  crushed 
dog  cakes.  And  these  cakes  with  a  generous  quantity  of 
milk  will  do  for  the  sixth  day's  supper. 

This  diet-table  will  give  a  near  idea  how  mature  dogs 
should  be  fed  at  night  —  the  time  when  they  should  be 
given  their  heartiest  meal.  Further  variations  will  be 
easy  ;   and  the  longer  the  list  of  foods  the  better. 

The  method  of  preparation  advised  favors  convenience 
greatly  and  there  can  be  no  decided  objection  to  it  where 
the  dogs  are  of  large  size,  have  vigorous  digestive  powers 
and  are  allowed  a  goodly  amount  of  exercise.  But  the 
fact  is  apparent  that  a  soup  made  in  this  way  is  richer 
and  less  digestible  than  the  vegetables  and  meats  would 
be  were  they  cooked  separately.  Again,  in  soups  which 
are  thickened  with  starchy  foods  it  is  scarcely  possi- 
ble to  keep  the  proportion  of  the  various  ingredients 
right. 

Consequently  when  it  is  possible  to  do  so  it  is  best  to 
cook  the  meat  in  one  kettle,  the  vegetables  in  another, 
and  the  starches  by  themselves,  and  keep  them  separate 
until  they  are  to  be  served.  Then  the  correct  proportions 
can  be  put  into  the  feeding  pan,  the  vegetables,  bread, 
rice,  Indian  meal  or  other  starches  softened  with  the 
broth,  and  all  well  mixed  together. 

Another  good  way  of  preparing  meat  for  dogs,  and  one 


74  KENNEL  SECRETS. 

that  favors  convenience  greatly  when  no  very  great 
amount  of  this  food  is  required,  is  as  follows  :  Obtain, 
as  needed,  one  or  more  glass  jars  of  good  size  such 
as  are  used  for  preserving.  Cut  the  meat  fine.  Put 
into  each  jar  a  quantity  sufficient  to  make  it  about  one- 
half  full.  Fill  up  with  cold  water  and  cover  with  saucers. 
Now  stand  these  jars  in  small  shallow  pans  containing  a 
little  water,  place  them  in  the  oven  of  the  kitchen  stove 
and  leave  them  there  four  or  five  hours  or  overnierht  if 
possible.  And  no  matter  how  tough  the  meat,  when 
cooked  in  this  way  it  becomes  tender;  moreover,  nearly 
all  its  virtues  have  been  saved  and  the  broth  is  appetizing 
as  well  as  quite  nutritious. 

The  morning  meal  scarcely  requires  any  special  prep- 
aration, and  one  or  more  dog  cakes,  according  to  the 
size  of  the  dog,  or  a  few  dry,  hard  pieces  of  stale  bread 
and  a  goodly  quantity  of  new  milk,  skimmed  milk  or  but- 
termilk will' admirably  meet  all  requirements. 

It  will  naturally  be  assumed  from  this  that  the  writer 
is  in  favor  of  the  two-meals-a-day  system.  He  believes 
that  under  many  conditions  for  all  dogs  other  than  toys  a 
light  breakfast — largely  of  milk,  because  of  its  very 
decidedly  good  effect  upon  the  coat  —  and  a  good  sup- 
per is  the  regimen  most  conducive  to  health.  It  cer- 
tainly in  some  degree  discourages  gluttony,  for  this 
disposition  is  as  a  rule  far  more  pronounced  in  dogs 
that  are  fed  but  once  in  twenty-four  hours.  And  these 
suffer  more  frequently  from  indigestion  than  others  that 
are  fed  twice  daily. 

In  the  wild  state  the  dog  was  a  gluttonous  animal,  for 
his  chances  of  a  meal  came  only  seldom,  and  to  guard 
against  starvation  he  was  forced  to  overload  his  stomach  ; 
but  now  if  he  is  rightly  fed  this  disposition  is  never 
exhibited  in  great  intensity ;  and  the  less  intense  it  is 
the  better  his  health. 


GENERAL  DIETARY.  75 

But  while,  as  a  rule,  it  is  advisable  that  two  meals  each 
day  be  allowed,  under  some  conditions  the  number  can 
properly  be  limited  to  one  and  food  be  given  at  night 
only.  And  on  the  whole  this  custom  seems  best  for 
sporting  dogs  while  in  the  field,  for  were  they  fed  morn- 
ings and  soon  afterward  started  to  work,  during  their 
hard  runs  digestion  would  go  on  slowly  if  indeed  it  did 
not  stop  altogether,  and  the  food  in  the  stomach,  decom- 
posing and  acrid  in  consequence  of  being  too  long  retained, 
would  cause  gastric  and  intestinal  irritation  and  diarrhoea. 
Consequently  one  meal  a  day  —  a  hearty  one  —  after  their 
work  has  been  done  should  be  the  rule  with  them. 

But  in  this  matter,  as  in  all  that  pertains  to  the  care  of 
the  dog,  there  must  be  judgment  displayed,  and  the  same 
based  on  a  thorough  knowledge  of  individual  peculi- 
arities, habits,  etc.  For  instance,  greyhounds  are  light 
feeders  and  one  meal  a  day  is  quite  enough  for  the 
majority  of  them.  And  yet  there  v/ould  be  no  good 
reason  for  denying  members  of  this  family  a  snack  in 
the  morning  had  they  been  habituated  to  it  and  seemed 
the  better  for  it. 

Again,  assuming  that  a  bitch  has  been  accustomed  to 
one  feeding  a  day  and  is  in-pup,  manifestly  two  meals  will 
be  required  during  the  early  weeks  of  gestation,  also  a 
light  luncheon  as  the  end  is  rapidly  approaching. 

In  a  word,  whether  there  should  be  one  feeding  daily  or 
two  or  more  feedings  depends  largely  upon  existing  cir- 
cumstances, and  these  considered  intelligently  a  mistake 
would  scarcely  be  possible.  But  to  the  question.  Are 
three  feedings  a  day  advisable  under  ordinary  conditions 
for  other  than  toys.''  the  answer  is  emphatically  No  !  For 
dogs  fed  so  often  become  dull,  sluggish  and  indolent,  and 
unfit  for  any  special  purpose. 

The  daily  amount  of  food  required  also  depends  upon 


76  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

existing  circumstances,  and  a  fixed  quantity  suited  to  all 
dogs  even  of  the  same  size  is  absolutely  impossible,  for 
one  weighing  sixty  pounds  may  require  as  much  food  as 
one  weighing  one  hundred  pounds  ;  while  one  will  keep 
fat  with  one-fourth  the  quantity  given  another  of  the  same 
size  and  breed.  But  the  intelligent  breeder  is  scarcely 
likely  to  stumble  badly  here,  for  he  will  duly  consider  the 
individual  peculiarities,  the  amount  of  exercise  taken  or 
work  performed,  and  the  state  of  the  appetite,  health  and 
seneral  condition ;  after  which  he  will  be  able  to  estimate 
with  near  certainty  the  amount  of  food  necessary  to  keep 
his  dogs  properly  nourished. 

In  some  instances  the  appetite  might  be  a  safe  guide  in 
regulating  the  supply  of  food,  but  it  is  frequently  perverted 
and  gluttonous,  also  oftentimes  more  or  less  impaired,  con- 
sequently alone  it  can  scarcely  be  depended  upon  as  a 
rule.  Yet  unless  a  dog  is  a  veritable  glutton  he  is  not 
likely  to  go  far  over  the  line  if  allowed  at  his  evening 
meal  all  he  will  eat  with  very  evident  relish,  but  when  he 
turns  away  as  though  satisfied,  or  begins  to  pick  over  what 
is  left  of  his  food  for  the  daintiest  and  most  toothsome 
morsels,  it  can  generally  be  accepted  that  he  has  had 
about  all  that  he  actually  requires,  ■  and  it  is  time  to 
remove  his  pan. 

A  far  better  plan  however  is  to  watch  the  dog  carefully, 
note  his  general  condition,  measure  the  quantity  of  food 
given  him  in  a  week  or  so,  then  strike  an  average,  and 
thereafter  give  him  about  the  estimated  quantity  as  long 
as  he  is  doing  well,  or  lessen  or  increase  it  a  little  as  he 
puts  on  or  loses  flesh.  And  this  wisely  followed  there 
will  be  no  "  stuffing ; "  the  dog  will  lick  out  his  pan,  and 
very  likely  wish  he  had  a  little  more  ;  and  once  in  condi- 
tion he  will  keep  there. 

The  appetite  of   the  dog,  like  that  of  his  master,   is 


GENERAL   DIETARY.  77 

sometimes  capricious,  and  occasionally  he  will  turn  from 
a  wholesome  and  appetizing  dish.  Of  course  it  is  a  sign 
of  disturbance,  yet  too  much  significance  should  not  be 
attached  to  it ;  moreover,  it  may  generally  be  accepted  as 
evidence  that  nature  has  called  a  halt  and  nourishment 
for  the  time  being  cannot  be  properly  disposed  of.  It  is 
better,  therefore,  in  such  a  case,  provided  the  dog  seems 
well,  to  remove  his  food  and  allow  him  to  fast  until  the  next 
regular  time  for  feeding.  And  if  mere  derangement  has 
caused  the  loss  of  appetite  more  than  likely  it  will  in  the 
mean  time  have  been  recovered  from  and  he  will  after- 
wards eat  heartily.  If,  however,  he  is  not  disposed  to  do 
so  his  food  should  be  again  taken  from  him. 

Some  owners  will  think  this  severe  treatment,  and  that 
their  dogs  would  be  in  danger  of  starving  were  they  denied 
food  for  three  or  four  days.  As  a  matter  of  fact  dogs 
have  endured  abstinence  for  nearly  thirty  days.  There- 
fore, in  the  absence  of  other  symptoms  a  loss  of  appetite 
need  not  occasion  great  uneasiness  ;  but  still  its  cause 
should  be  determined  if  possible,  and  unless  the  normal 
condition  of  things  is  restored  within  three  or  four  days 
the  victim  should  be  examined  by  a  competent  practi- 
tioner, it  being  accepted  that  this  sign  then  points 
strongly  to  disease. 

Occasionally,  but  fortunately  not  often,  are  encountered 
dogs  that  while  apparently  well  are  what  are  termed  shy 
feeders.  They  never  eat  greedily  of  any  food,  and  nearly 
all,  if  not  all,  are  victims  of  derangement  or  disease,  and 
very  generally  of  the  digestive  organs.  Therefore,  the 
starvation  treatment  would  never  do  for  them,  and 
unusual  consideration  must  be  exhibited  and  they  be 
fed  on  the  foods  for  which  they  show  decided  prefer- 
ences, provided  they  are  wholesome  and  easily  digested. 
But  in  the  mean   time    every  effort    should   be  made  to 


yS  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

discover  and  overcome  the  cause  of  the  impairment  and 
improve  the  general  health  by  means  of  carefully  regu- 
lated exercise. 

During  the  summer  months,  dogs,  like  mankind,  are  at 
times  much  depressed  by  the  heat,  and  when  so  all  their 
powers  are  more  or  less  enfeebled.  Digestion  of  course 
shares  in  this  decline  in  vigor,  and  it  follows  that  its 
duties  should,  for  the  time  being,  be  made  as  light  as. 
possible.  To  this  end  the  quantity  of  meat,  the  dog's 
heartiest  food,  can  properly  be  reduced  somewhat  and 
the  deficiency  supplied  by  vegetables,  and  especially 
those  that  grow  above  ground,  for  not  only  are  they  no 
tax  on  the  digestive  organs  but  by  their  action  on  the 
bowels  and  blood  they  greatly  favor  comfort  under 
exposure  to  heat.  Moreover,  where  this  salutary  change 
in  diet  is  made  dogs  are  much  less  liable  to  suffer  from 
skin  eruptions  attended  with  intense  itching. 

Another  important  rule  for  hot  weather  is  to  cook  each 
day's  food  on  the  day  that  it  is  to  be  fed  out,  and  failing 
in  this,  all  meats,  broths  and  soups,  kept  over  night  for 
the  following  day's  feeding,  should  be  recooked  before  they 
are  served,  for  such  foods  decompose  quickly  and  during 
this  change  virulent  poisons  are  developed.  In  truth 
dogs  are  capable  of  resisting  food  poisons  to  a  wonderful 
degree,  but  just  how  far  their  resistant  powers  extend  is 
not  known,  and  there  is  reason  for  the  belief  that  not  a 
few  of  the  now  mysterious  visitations  of  sickness  in  the 
kennels  are  due  to  these  food  poisons.  Consequently 
recooking  by  boiling  must  be  accepted  as  advisable,  and 
if  this  is  kept  up  for  ten  or  fifteen  minutes  all  such  poisons 
will  with  certainty  be  destroyed. 

In  closing,  the  fact  is  again  urged  that  dogs  young  and 
old  are  often  overfed,  and  if  so,  while  they  seem  to  be 
doing  well   at  first  and   putting  on  fat,  puppies  at  least 


GENERAL   DIETARY.  79 

sooner  or  later  are  sure  to  grow  thin  in  consequence ;  and 
the  same  result  is  often  noted  with  mature  dogs.  There 
is  truth  in  the  old  saying  that  one  may  starve  with  a 
stomach  full.  Persistently  overfeed  a  baby  and  it  will 
waste  away  and  die,  and  the  same  error  in  feeding  a 
puppy  is  likely  to  result  as  disastrously. 

Overfeeding  is  scarcely  likely  to  kill  a  mature  dog  but 
it  will  surely  put  him  out  of  condition  —  make  him  thin, 
dispirited  and  ailing,  and  his  coat  harsh  and  staring.  But 
few  appreciate  this  fact  however,  and  when  dogs  present 
symptoms  induced  by  gluttony  they  are  generally  fed  even 
more  generously. 

A  dog  that  is  allowed  perfect  freedom  is  not  often  made 
ill  in  consequence  of  over-eating,  because  free  exercise  is 
his  remedy,  but  one  much  on  the  chain  soon  suffers  greatly 
from  the  ill  effects  of  this  habit.  And  this  important  fact 
should  be  kept  in  sight  and  have  due  weight  in  estimating 
the  amount  of  food  required. 

A  word  of  protest  here  against  allowing  dogs  to  become 
too  fat.  This  fault  is  a  common  one  among  owners  of  large 
breeds,  and  some  judges  at  bench  shows  do  much  to 
encourage  it.  The  term  "  condition  "  as  used  by  them  is 
decidedly  elastic,  but  these  judges  generally  appear  to 
consider  a  large  dog  in  condition  when  he  is  well  rounded 
out  even  by  an  excessive  accumulation  of  fat.  Yet  a 
sporting  dog  to  be  in  good  condition  must  be  compara- 
tively lean  ;  while  all  others  that  are  really  in  good  con- 
dition are  in  good  health,  free  from  any  excess  of  fat,  and 
firm  and  hard  in  muscles  and  flesh. 

Finally,  not  only  should  the  food  of  dogs  be  of  good 
quality  and  carefully  prepared,  but  it  should  be  served  up 
in  dishes  that  are  sweet  and  clean.  Many  authors  have 
discussed  the  dirt-eating  propensity  of  these  animals  and 
reached  the  conclusion  that  their  food  should  be  thrown 


8o 


KENNEL   SECRETS. 


upon  the  ground.  The  propensity  in  question  however  is 
indicative  of  a  derangement  somewhere  within  the  system, 
and  must  be  likened  to  the  abnormal  appetite  for  slate 
pencils,  chalk,  etc.,  which  is  sometimes  noted  in  girls  who 
are  suffering  from  poverty  of  the  blood. 


CHAPTER  VI. 


KENNELLING. 


Health  is  the  dog's  natural  condition  and  he  would 
rarely  know  any  other  were  he  given  freedom  and  left  to 
himself.  But  he  is  put  under  restraint,  his  supply  of  sun- 
shine and  pure  air  narrowed,  and  he  is  exposed  to  other 
unfriendly  influences  which  must  draw  him  away  from 
Nature, — who  is  constantly  struggling  to  keep  him  and 
all  others  in  her  domain  free  from  ills,  —  and  of  these  influ- 
ences some  of  the  most  potent  lie  in  the  familiar  and 
faulty  kennel  conditions. 

"Any  place  is  good  enough  for  a  dog"  is  an  expression 
which  one  hears  with  distressing  frequency,  yet  it  is 
scarcely  more  contemptible  than  the  practices  of  many 
who  pretend  to  care  for  him  yet  house  him  through  all 
seasons  in  small  boxes  which  scarcely  afford  more  than 
mere  covering,  or  in  out-buildings,  cold,  draughty,  damp, 
ill-kept  and  contaminated  with  emanations  that  must 
inevitably,  sooner  or  later,  undermine  his  constitution 
and  impoverish  his  health,  as  well  as  make  him  a  ready 
victim  to  inflammatory  diseases. 

No  valid  excuse  can  be  given  for  faulty  kennelling,  no 

8i 


82  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

matter  where  the  owners  live  or  how  poor  they  are,  for  he 
who  is  unable  to  provide  suitable  quarters  for  his  dog  else- 
where can  share  his  own  roof  with  him,  and  this  no  person 
of  sense  will  be  ashamed  to  do.  But  the  problem  of  hous- 
ing can  scarcely  be  as  easily  disposed  of  in  all  instances, 
for  there  are  quite  a  number  of  varieties  of  dogs  which  for 
their  own  welfare  should  be  quartered  beyond  the  living 
rooms  of  their  masters;  but  still,  the  solution  can  be 
reached  even  where  every  trifling  expense  must  be  felt. 

The  most  primitive  kennel  is  a  large  and  stoutly  con- 
structed barrel  of  the  kind  used  in  these  days  for  alcohol, 
kerosene  oil  and  many  other  fluids.  This  placed  on  its 
side  and  blocked  up  a  foot  or  more  from  the  ground  by 
stones,  bricks  or  wood,  and  with  a  wide  board  inside  for  a 
floor,  would  afford  fairly  good  summer  quarters  for  a  small 
dog,  which  if  unchained  during  the  mild  season  would  not 
likely  seek  shelter  except  in  stormy  weather. 

But  while  such  a  device  might  answer  its  purpose  there 
are  not  many  owners,  even  among  the  poorest,  who  would 
be  content  with  it,  nor  has  it  any  advantages  beyond  those 
of  a  packing  case  or  "dry-goods  box  "  of  goodly  size  if  the 
top  and  sides  of  the  same  are  covered  by  tarred  paper. 
And  the  latter  is  certainly  more  sightly,  while  its  cost  is 
less  than  that  of  a  barrel. 

These  boxes  are  used  altogether  for  summer  quarters  by 
some  breeders  of  varieties  of  medium  sizes  who  place 
them  about  in  the  yards,  providing  one  for  each  dog ;  and 
theirs  is  certainly  a  commendable  custom,  for  dogs  so 
treated  are  nearer  nature,  therefore  healthier  than  they 
would  be  in  stables,  barns  or  large  kennels.  Moreover, 
as  such  boxes  are  inexpensive  they  can  be  burned  and 
replaced  occasionally  during  the  season,  and  the  necessity 
of  whitewashing  or  using  disinfectants  and  insecticides 
thereby  obviated. 


KENNELLING.  83 

A  small  house  could  easily  be  constructed  by  any 
one  accustomed  to  the  use  of  tools,  and  for  a  sum  but 
slightly  in  excess  of  what  a  good  box  or  barrel  costs  ;  but 
to  insure  comfort  it  would  be  necessary  to  build  on  a  dif- 
ferent plan  than  that  so  generally  considered  suitable  for 
small  out-door  kennels. 

The  prime  essentials  in  such  a  building  are,  amply  suffi- 
cient space  for  the  tenant  to  stand  and  turn  easily,  and 
protection  from  draughts. 

The  latter  can  only  be  met  by  building  the  kennel  very 
wide  —  in  fact  nearly  double  the  width  required  merely 
for  sleeping  quarters  —  and  in  this  way  provide  a  hall- 
way, as  it  were,  which  the  tenant  must  enter  from  the  out- 
side and  pass  through  before  he  can  reach  his  room. 

In  the  construction  of  kennels  of  this  sort  "  matched 
boards  "  are  generally  used  and  tarred  paper  put  in  for 
lining,  but  while  warmth  is  secured  there  are  decided 
objections  to  this  lining,  for  moisture  accumulates  be- 
tween it  and  the  boards,  and  the  quarters  are  damp  for 
many  days  after  a  hard  rain.  Consequently  it  is  best 
always  to  "batten"  over  the  joints  or  put  on  shingles. 

A  small  window  in  his  room  and  facing  his  master's 
house  would  be  the  desire  of  the  tenant  had  he  voice  in 
the  matter,  and  were  this  put  in  and  provisions  made  for 
a  storm  window  for  cold  weather  the  quarters  would  be 
much  healthier  for  it. 

There  are  several  ways  in  which  convenience  in  cleanli- 
ness may  be  favored  :  one,  to  hinge  one-half  of  the  roof 
to  the  other  half,  by  which  means  it  can  be  lifted  as 
the  lid  of  a  box  ;  another,  to  "  cut  in  "  a  door  in  front, 
at  the  side  of  the  hall-way  door ;  but  the  best  of  all  is  to 
have  the  entire  front  hinged  at  the  top  so  that  it  can 
be  raised,  when  it  will  be  easy  to  clean  all  parts  inside. 

The  kennel   completed  and  in  place,  a  large  platform 


84  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

should  be  built  in  front  that  the  tenant  may  sun  himself 
without  being  obliged  to  lie  upon  the  ground. 

Such  a  building  as  this  properly  situated,  kept  clean, 
etc.,  would  be  comfortable  quarters  for  a  dog  in  pleasant 
weather ;  and  if  long-coated  and  hardy  and  he  had  plenty 
of  exercise  in  the  daytime  he  might  pass  the  winter  nights 
in  it  were  an  abundance  of  bedding  put  in  and  a  piece 
of  carpeting  tacked  over  the  door.  Yet  it  has  literally 
nothing  to  recommend  it  except  perhaps  its  low  cost, 
while  many  serious  objections  appear,  one  of  which  is 
that  it  must  inevitably  be  damp  at  times.  Consequently, 
to  consider  it  further,  the  best  situation  for  it,  etc.,  would 
be  simply  wasting  time  and  space. 

A  loose  box  in  a  stable  of  stock  will  do  nicely  for  sleep- 
ing quarters,  but  he  who  has  neither  this  nor  other  suita- 
ble out-house  should  build  for  his  dog  something  deserving 
the  name  of  kennel.  Consenting  to  do  so  he  will  consider 
first  the  great  requisites,  which  are  dryness,  air,  sunshine, 
freedom  from  draughts,  protection  from  cold,  and  con- 
venience. 

If  he  has  a  choice  of  situations  he  should  take  the  high 
ground  as  most  favorable  because  of  surface  drainage,  for 
nothing  is  more  important  in  the  construction  of  this,  and 
for  that  matter  every  building,  than  that  its  foundation  be 
protected  from  dampness,  which,  by  the  way,  is  an  influ- 
ence positively  destructive  to  dogs. 

If  the  ground  is  sloping  the  floor  timbers  can  be  set  on 
cedar  posts  projecting  about  two  feet,  but  if  level  a  founda- 
tion will  be  required.  Merely  a  stone  wall  two  feet  in 
height  will  do  for  this  if  the  soil  is  light  or  sandy,  but  if 
clayey  or  of  other  nature  calculated  to  retain  moisture  it 
will  be  necessary  to  build  such  a  wall  and  fill  in  with  cin- 
ders or  make  a  concrete  foundation  in  this  way  :  Over  the 
space  the  building  is  to  cover  lay  closely  large  stones  ;  fill 


HER   GRACE   THE   DUCHESS   OF  IVEWCASTI-E. 


KENNELLING.  85 

in  between  them  with  small  stones ;  cement  the  top  and 
"point "  the  sides. 

This  foundation  ought  to  be  two  feet  in  depth,  and  at 
least  one  barrel  of  cement  with  as  much  gravel  as  can 
safely  be  mixed  with  it  should  be  used  in  its  construction 
if  the  contemplated  building  is  of  the  size  about  to  be 
advised.  And  the  floor  timbers  laid  on  it  there  will  be 
absolutely  no  danger  of  dampness  from  the  ground. 

If  intended  for  two  small  dogs  or  one  large  one  the 
kennel  should  be  nine  or  ten  feet  in  length;  five  feet  in 
width  ;  height  at  the  front  nine  feet,  and  at  the  back 
seven  feet. 

The  timbers  should  be  of  spruce,  free  from  large  knots, 
sap  or  shakes,  and  of  the  following  dimensions  :  — 

Sills,  4x4;  posts,  4x4;  studs,  4x2  —  double  at  open- 
ings, sixteen  inches  on  centres ;  plates,  4x2;  rafters,  4x2 
—  twenty  inches  on  centres  ;  floor  joists,  6x  2  —  eighteen 
inches  on  centres,  —  and  these  should  be  furred  up  on  the 
rear  and  one  end  so  that  the  floor  when  laid  will  have  a 
double  pitch  of  three-quarters  of  an  inch  to  the  foot  and 
towards  the  small  door  for  the  dog. 

Cover  the  rafters  of  roof  and  studding  which  form  the 
walls  with  rough  boarding  ;  over  this  on  the  walls  place 
two  thicknesses  of  Beaver  brand  sheathing  paper. 

Cover  the  papered  walls  with  spruce  clapboards,  laid 
4^  inches  —  but  not  over  this  distance  —  to  the  weather 
using  galvanized  iron  nails. 

Under  all  finish  around  the  doors,  windows,  etc.,  put  on 
tarred  paper  over  the  sheathing  paper. 

Cover  the  roof  with  cedar  shingles,  laid  4^^  inches  to 
the  weather. 

On  the  floor  joists  put  down  ^  rough  boards ;  on 
them  two  thicknesses  of  tarred  paper,  —  turning  the 
same  up  four  inches  all  around  the  walls  —  and  over 
all  lay  a  finished  floor. 


S6  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

By  building  after  this  plan  one  will  obtain  a  kennel 
which  will  be  cool  in  summer  but  warm  in  winter  and 
thoroughly  weather-proof. 

At  one  end  there  should  be  a  door  to  admit  the  owner; 
while  the  door  for  the  dog  should  be  at  the  back  and 
where  it  will  open  into  his  out-door  yard. 

This  door  should  be  large  enough  to  permit  the  dog  to 
pass  through  with  ease,  and  it  should  be  hung  with  "  fly 
hinges  "  that  he  may  push  it  in  or  out. 

Inside  this  door  should  be  placed  another  so  adjusted 
that  it  will  slide  up,  that  the  tenant  may  be  confined  when 
desirable. 

Mindful  of  the  infinite  importance  of  sunlight,  a  large 
sash  window  should  be  put  in  in  front,  and  hinged  that  it 
may  be  opened  when  the  weather  is  favorable.  It  must 
also  be  protected  on  the  inside  by  strong  wire  netting 
.securely  fastened  at  top,  bottom  and  sides. 

This  window  cannot  be  depended  upon  for  ventilation 
—  of  infinite  importance  in  a  kennel  —  nor  are  the  small 
ventilating  windows  which  are  hinged  at  the  bottom  and 
chained  at  the  sides  perfectly  safe,  for  the  incoming  air 
would  likely  strike  the  occupant  while  on  the  sleeping- 
bench.  But  this  danger  of  draughts  can  be  wholly  obvi- 
ated by  what  is  known  as  the  "Eureka  Ventilator" — a 
simple  and  inexpensive  device,  which  placed  high  not  only 
admits  fresh  air  but  draws  out  the  foul  air  and  at  the  same 
time  keeps  out  the  rain  and  snow. 

As  for  painting,  tints  may  be  used  if  the  owner  fancies 
them,  and  the  clapboards  be  of  one  color  and  the  "  finish  " 
another,  but  three  good  coats  of  white  paint,  made  of  pure 
white  lead  and  linseed  oil  only,  would  be  preferable,  for 
the  reason  it  would  not  attract  the  sun  in  summer  as 
much  as  dark  colors. 

Some  breeders  will  have  no  other  floors  to  their  kennels 


KENNELLING.  Sj 

than  the  ground,  and  this  might  do  in  the  warm  climates, 
or  even  in  the  cold  were  the  buildings  located  on  knolls 
and  the  surface  drainage  good,  or  there  were  trenches  on 
all  sides  to  rapidly  carry  away  the  water  falling  from  the 
eaves  and  on  the  adjacent  ground.  But  available  situa- 
tions like  this  are  rare,  while  to  trench  and  drain  securely 
would  be  quite  expensive.  And  after  all  a  ground  floor 
that  is  perfectly  dry  even  is  no  better  if  as  good  as  one  of 
boards,  provided  it  is  sloped,  as  directed  in  the  foregoing, 
so  that  the  water  used  in  washing  will  drain  off  quickly. 
Earth  is  a  disinfectant,  it  is  true,  but  like  all  other  agents 
of  its  kind  there  are  limits  to  its  power,  and  when  it  has 
been  treated  to  impurities  the  emanations  from  it  are  not 
only  highly  offensive  but  very  prejudicial  to  health. 

Really  a  ground  floor  is  to  be  preferred  only  where  the 
dogs  have  an  adjoining  yard  to  which  they  have  free  access 
and  they  are  cleanly  in  their  habits,  for  otherwise  it  must 
have  an  absorbent  covering  and  be  frequently  dug  up  and 
renewed. 

Returning  to  the  kennel  undergoing  construction,  sleep- 
ing accommodations  are  next  in  order,  and  these  are  easily 
provided  in  the  form  of  a  bench  about  six  inches  in  height 
and  two  or  three  feet  in  width  —  according  to  the  size  of 
the  dog  for  which  it  is  intended.  This  should  be  at  the 
end  opposite  the  door ;  and  that  it  may  hold  the  bedding 
it  should  have  a  strip  of  board  nailed  to  its  front,  while  to 
prevent  its  being  gnawed  the  top  of  this  strip  should  be 
protected  with  hoop  iron.  It  should  also  be  built  in  two 
parts,  with  about  one-third  or  one-fourth  of  it  stationary, 
and  to  this  part  the  other  should  be  attached  by  hinges,  so 
that  it  can  be  tipped  up  and  back  without  necessitating 
removal  of  the  bedding. 

A  sleeping-bench  constructed  in  this  way  will  greatly 
favor  convenience,  and  the  occupants  can  be  easily  pre- 


88  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

vented  from  carrying  bones  to  their  beds  —  a  habit  which 
is  not  only  unpleasant  but  dangerous,  for  it  has  ended  in 
death  in  consequence  of  intestinal  stoppage  caused  by  the 
straw  swallowed  during  the  gnawing. 

This  arrangement  is  ample  for  moderate  weather,  but  as 
soon  as  winter  sets  in  it  will  generally  be  necessary  to 
provide  a  sleeping-box.  One  might  be  constructed  over 
the  bench,  but  it  is  cheaper  and  quite  as  well  to  use  a 
large  packing  case.  This  well  filled  with  bedding  will 
furnish  warm  and  cosey  sleeping  quarters.  And  economy 
and  prudence  suggest  that  it  be  burned  in  the  spring  or 
at  once  the  occupant  has  infected  it  with  mange,  distem- 
per or  other  contagious  disease. 

All  that  remains  to  complete  the  furnishings  are  a  gate 
or  screen  door,  to  be  hinged  to  the  outer  part  of  the  door- 
frame, for  use  in  hot  weather,  and  a  storm  window  for 
winter. 

A  kennel  constructed  on  these  lines  costs  much  less 
than  the  average  reader  will  assume  —  in  fact  thirty-five, 
or  at  the  most  forty,  dollars  ought  to  pay  for  the  work  and 
materials.  It  might  be  built  for  less  and  it  might  cost 
more  —  all  depending  of  course  on  the  one  who  pro- 
vided the  materials  and  the  quality  of  work  —  but  the 
largest  sum  stated  should  be  ample  for  a  well-con- 
structed building. 

But  cost  what  it  may  it  is  the  very  simplest  and  least 
expensive  kind  of  a  kennel,  and  the  man  who  cannot  pro- 
vide as  good  quarters  as  this  ought  not  attempt  to  keep  a 
dog.  Certainly  there  is  nothing  fanciful  about  it ;  it  com- 
prises merely  the  absolute  requisites, — dryness,  air,  sun- 
shine and  protection  from  cold  ;  and  if  a  puppy  is  denied 
either  of  these  he  will  inevitably  be  weakly  and  stunted,  if 
not  worse,  while  under  the  same  conditions  a  mature  dog 
must  as  surely  decline  in  health  and  vigor  and  become  a 
frequent  sufferer  from  disease. 


KENNELLING.  89 

There  are  yet  a  few  points  in  connection  with  this  little 
building  to  be  disposed  of  before  going  farther  into  the 
subject  of  kennelling.  It  should  be  so  situated  that  it  will 
catch  the  sun  in  the  early  morning  and  hold  it  until  late 
in  the  afternoon.  And  it  should  always  be  well  venti- 
lated, and  the  window  and  doors  left  open  for  the  pur- 
pose of  thorough  airing  while  the  tenant  is  taking  his 
walks  or  scampers. 

At  the  rear  of  the  kennel  there  should  be  a  clear  space 
of  not  less  than  ten  feet,  to  which  the  dog  should  have  free 
access  ;  and  all  the  better  if  a  portion  of  this  has  a  roof 
over  it. 

For  bedding  in  winter,  straw,  coarse  hay,  or  thoroughly 
dried  fallen  leaves  are  the  best  materials  for  short-coated 
dogs,  but  for  the  long-coated  they  would  scarcely  do 
because  they  break  up  and  hang  to  the  coat.  In  which 
case  a  piece  of  carpeting  or  blanket  can  be  used  ;  and  a 
bedding  of  this  sort  is  preferable  for  collies  and  other  dogs 
with  long  coats. 

During  warm  weather,  dogs  generally  are  more  com- 
fortable without  bedding,  but  if  any  is  required  long 
pine  shavings  for  choice,  because  they  are  objectionable 
to  fleas. 

Whatever  its  nature  the  bedding  should  be  clean  always 
and  replaced  at  least  once  a  week  in  pleasant  weather ; 
while  when  foggy  or  rainy  more  frequent  renewal  will  be 
absolutely  necessary,  for  at  such  times  it  must  soon 
become  damp  —  in  which  state  it  is  a  grave  menace  to 
health. 

Several  times  during  the  summer  —  the  oftener  the 
better  —  the  entire  inside  of  the  kennel,  not  excepting 
the  floors,  should  be  treated  to  a  thick  coat  of  freshly 
prepared  whitewash,  the  same  being  forced  into  every 
crack  and  cranny.     And  by  this  means  all  bad  odors  will 


90  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

be  removed,  perfect  cleanliness  insured,  and  fleas  and 
other  vermin  driven  out,  and  for  a  while  at  least  the 
building  will  be  obnoxious  to  them. 

Should  any  of  these  pests  become  intolerable  at  a  time 
when  to  whitewash  is  not  convenient  the  owner  will  afford 
much  relief  if  he  applies  kerosene  oil  quite  freely,  by  means 
of  a  brush,  to  the  sleeping-bench  and  walls. 

As  whitewashing  is  scarcely  possible  in  winter,  occa- 
sional fumigations  by  means  of  burning  sulphur  will  be 
advisable  ;  and  these  should  occur  on  damp  days,  as  the 
agent  in  question  acts  best  in  the  presence  of  moisture. 

The  following  method  suggests  itself  as  the  most  con- 
venient :  Close  the  small  door  and  ventilator  and  tack  over 
them  pieces  of  carpeting  or  the  like  that  the  fumes  may 
not  escape.  Leave  the  large  door  open  for  hasty  exit. 
Place  a  pan  of  water  on  the  floor,  and  in  this  a  small  tin 
or  old  crockery  dish  holding  two  handfuls  of  powdered 
sulphur ;  over  which  pour  a  little  alcohol.  Touch  a  lighted 
match  to  it  and  step  outside.  Assured  that  the  alcohol  is 
burning,  close  the  door  and  cover  it  with  a  stable  blanket 
—  tacking  the  same  every  few  inches  at  the  edges. 

Four  or  five  hours  afterward  open  the  large  door,  also 
the  window  and  small  door  as  soon  as  possible,  and  give 
the  building  a  thorough  airing  before  the  tenant  is 
returned  to  it. 

It  is  scarcely  necessary  to  add  that  this  is  one  of  the 
most  efficient  preventives  of  infectious  diseases. 

The  kennel  to  the  description  of  which  so  much  space 
has  been  devoted  is,  as  stated  at  first,  intended  for  two 
dogs  of  small  or  medium  size  or  a  single  large  one.  It 
represents  all  the  requisites  for  healthy  quarters,  and  those 
who  propose  to  keep  a  larger  number  of  dogs  can  build  on 
its  principles.  But  of  course  they  must  be  well  informed 
as  to  the  peculiarities  of  the  dogs  for  which  the  kennels 


KENXELLING.  9 1 

are  intended  before  they  undertake  their  construction, 
for  what  would  be  suitable  for  one  variety  might  not  be 
so  for  another.  And  especially  important  would  be  a  con- 
sideration of  their  dispositions,  otherwise  although  the 
number  of  dogs  might  be  small  and  the  kennel  large  it 
might  not  be  large  enough  for  them  owing  to  their  fight- 
ing propensities. 

For  instance,  dachshunds  and  Chesapeakes  are  savage 
fighters,  and  only  a  small  number,  and  oftentimes  no  more 
than  two,  can  share  an  apartment,  whereas  an  entire  pack 
of  hounds  might  live  together  in  peace  and  harmony. 

The  question  of  heating  would  also  demand  intelligent 
consideration,  and  manifestly  it  would  never  do  to  put 
short-coated  and  delicate  varieties  into  kennels  kept  at  a 
temperature  which  would  be  comfortable  for  such  dogs  as 
St.  Bernards. 

Again,  in  planning  for  large  kennels  dog-proof  apart- 
ments for  bitches  in  season,  quarters  for  whelping,  for  pup- 
pies,—  young  and  old, — for  the  sick,  etc.,  must  all  be 
duly  considered. 

Evidently,  therefore,  this  work  is  an  important  one,  which 
should  be  attempted  by  those  only  who  have  had  abundant 
experience,  and  with  the  varieties  for  which  the  buildings 
are  intended. 

As  for  him  who  quarters  his  dog  in  a  stable  or  barn,  he 
should  give  him  a  place  near  a  window,  keep  his  floor  dry 
and  clean,  and  by  the  means  of  a  sleeping-bench  obviate 
the  danger  of  floor-draughts  —  which  are  surely  fatal  to 
development  and  ruinous  to  health.  Unless  the  dog  can 
go  out  at  will,  to  maintain  dryness  in  such  a  place  will 
never  be  easy  especially  if  the  flooring  is  of  planking,  and 
the  best  method  is  to  slope  and  cover  it  with  cement  or 
asphalt.  But  if  this  is  out  of  the  question  it  should  have 
a  layer  of  sawdust  or  dry  and  untainted  clayey  earth,  sev- 


92  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

eral  inches  in  depth,  to  hold  the  impurities  and  favor  the 
removal  of  the  deposits.  And  the  absorbent  covering 
should  all  be  renewed  at  least  twice  a  week,  for  it  must 
soon  become  foul  and  throw  off  poisonous  gases  that  not 
only  greatly  injure  the  general  health  but  cause  severe 
inflammation  of  the  eyes. 

And  even  in  the  face  of  careful  treatment  were  a  dog 
kept  much  of  the  time  in  such  quarters  the  floor  would 
likely  soon  reek  with  bad  odors  unless  a  disinfectant  be 
employed.  Therefore  one  should  always  be  at  hand  and 
used  about  the  bench,  woodwork  and  floor,  not  alone  for 
its  deodorizing  effect  but  for  its  unfriendliness  to  vermin 
and  disease. 

Efficacy,  economy  and  safety  all  duly  considered,  the 
permanganate  of  potassium  has  as  much  to  recommend  it 
as  any  other  agent  of  its  class.  It  costs  at  wholesale  only 
about  fifty  cents  a  pound,  and  this  quantity  is  sufficient  to 
make  fifteen  gallons  of  powerful  deodorizer,  which  when 
recently  prepared  is  no  mean  antiseptic.  But  as  the  solu- 
tion rapidly  loses  its  virtues  it  is  best  to  make  it  as 
required,  by  adding  a  tablespoonful  of  the  crystals  to  a 
quart  of  water,  and  sprinkle  it  about  with  a  small  garden 
watering-pot. 

Summarizing  briefly,  the  paramount  essentials  in  a  ken- 
nel are,  cleanliness,  ample  sunlight,  an  abundance  of  pure 
air,  freedom  from  dampness  and  draughts,  and  protection 
from  cold.  Where  these  requirements  are  all  met  good 
health  may  be  confidently  expected,  but  where  even  one 
of  them  is  disregarded,  disease  will  invariably  be  a  fre- 
quent visitor. 


CHAPTER   VII. 

EXERCISE. 

Man  possesses  many  great  truths  that  he  is  slow  to 
reduce  to  practice,  and  very  strangely  no  small  proportion 
of  them  bear  on  his  physical  welfare.  He  wishes  to  be 
well  and  dreads  to  be  sick,  yet  for  some  unaccountable 
reason  he  insists  upon  indulging  his  inclination  in  viola- 
tion of  what  he  knows  to  be  right,  and  scarcely  any  sub- 
ject is  more  unwelcome  to  him  than  that  of  organic  law 
which  he  holds  so  lightly. 

Among  his  many  shortcomings  but  few  are  more  pro- 
nounced than  failure  to  give  due  attention  to  muscular 
exercise.  He  recognizes  that  it  is  beneficial,  and  theo- 
retically he  is  in  favor  of  it,  but  of  enthusiasm,  as  a  rule 
he  is  surprisingly  destitute.  His  notions  of  the  good  it 
does  are  also  decidedly  hazy,  and  when  pressed  to  define 
them  he  usually  indulges  in  vague  generalities,  among 
which  appear  opening  the  pores,  getting  up  a  muscle, 
brightening  the  spirits,  etc.  Usually,  also,  he  is  content 
with  his  indifferent  knowledge  of  the  subject,  and  his 
methods  of  applying  what  little  he  has  are  quite  as 
erratic  and  incomprehensive  as  his  definition. 

93 


94  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

Underrating  the  value  of  exercise  to  himself  he  is  far 
from  likely  to  form  a  correct  estimate  of  its  importance  in 
animal  life  unless  it  is  literally  forced  upon  him,  and  espe- 
cially reluctant  is  he  to  accept  the  truth  when  conviction 
means  some  sacrifice  of  his  convenience,  as  it  generally 
does  where  dogs  are  involved. 

Considering  all  this,  the  writer  feels  it  his  duty  to  dis- 
cuss at  considerable  length  the  specific  effects  of  exercise, 
the  evils  of  too  close  confinement  and  the  means  by  which 
dogs  may  be  held  in  check  and  yet  suffer  much  less  injury 
than  is  generally  inflicted  by  restraint. 

Glancing  at  the  physiology  of  exercise  there  first  appears 
the  fact  that  a  very  large  part  of  the  body  consists  of  mus- 
cular tissue,  in  which  is  contained  nearly  one-quarter  of 
the  blood,  and  by  it  fully  one-fourth  of  the  nerve  energy 
stored  up  in  the  body  is  turned  into  work.  This  tissue 
is  made  up  of  single  muscles,  the  number  of  which  in  the 
dog  is  not  accurately  known,  but  as  there  are  over  five 
hundred  in  the  human  body  it  is  fair  to  assume  that  this 
number  is  not  very  greatly  in  excess  of  that  in  all  the 
higher  order  of  animals.  Every  muscle  has  blood-vessels 
and  nerves,  and  fresh  blood  is  supplied  its  substance  by 
the  heart  through  its  arteries  and  the  fine  network  of 
small  vessels  formed  by  a  minute  subdivision  of  them. 
These  small  vessels  open  into  and  are  continuous  with 
veins  of  about  the  same  size,  and  they  in  turn  are  united 
into  larger  and  larger  vessels  that  finally  connect  with 
the  channels  by  which  the  blood  is  returned  to  the 
heart. 

Once  a  muscle  begins  working  the  blood  stream  pass- 
ing through  it  becomes  swollen  and  presents  decided 
changes  in  quality.  The  blood  which  enters  is  bright 
red  in  color,  rich  in  oxygen  and  poor  in  carbonic  acid, 
while  that  which  leaves  it  is  dark  blue  in  color  and  of  a 


EXERCISE.  95 

higher  temperature  ;  it  has  parted  with  much  of  its  oxygen 
and  has  taken  up  a  large  quantity  of  carbonic  acid,  also 
various  products  from  chemical  changes  that  have  occurred 
in  the  food  materials  supplied  the  muscle  by  the  blood, 
and  in  the  muscle  itself.  Obviously  this  is  the  condition 
demanded  for  the  integrity  of  a  muscle,  for  it  is  now  receiv- 
ing a  full  supply  of  fresh  blood  and  there  is  free  and  rapid 
drainage  of  all  its  noxious  waste  matters.  Go  a  little  fur- 
ther and  by  means  of  proper  food  in  sufficient  quantity 
and  an  abundance  of  pure  air  render  the  blood  rich  in 
nutritive  elements  and  oxygen,  also  allow  the  muscle  due 
intervals  of  rest,  and  it  must  be  not  only  healthy  but 
increase  in  size  and  weight. 

As  exercise  acts  on  a  single  muscle  so  it  acts  on  the 
muscular  system  as  a  whole  —  it  enlarges  and  strengthens 
it.  But  the  muscles  themselves  are  not  the  only  parts  of 
the  body  that  are  benefited  by  exercise,  for  brought  into 
action  by  it  they  in  turn  increase  the  rapidity  of  the  flow 
of  blood  to  the  heart.  This  vital  organ  also  works  more 
vigorously  and  a  larger  quantity  of  blood  is  sent  through 
the  lungs  ;  while  the  breathing  is  quickened  and  more 
oxygen  absorbed.  The  fires  within  are  now  brightened 
up,  and  in  consequence  the  skin  and  other  organs  of  secre- 
tion and  excretion  are  brought  into  action  to  get  rid  of  the 
excess  of  heat  and  the  clinkers  and  ashes,  as  it  were,  the 
products  of  combustion.  Thus  exercise  acts  as  a  spur  and 
brings  every  important  organ  in  the  body  into  more  active 
play. 

Now,  deprive  the  body  of  sufficient  exercise  and  note 
the  result.  The  digestive  organs  are  among  the  first  to 
show  signs  of  distress  and  decline  in  power,  and  their  work 
is  but  sluggishly  and  imperfectly  performed  ;  the  food  con- 
stituents taken  up  from  them  by  the  blood  are  not  properly 
oxidized ;  drainage  of  noxious  products  is  not  only  impeded 


96  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

in  the  muscles  but  in  all  the  organs  which  constitute  the 
body's  sewerage  system,  and  in  consequence  this  waste 
accumulates  to  still  further  lower  vitality  through  its  poi- 
sonous action.  The  digestive  organs  once  weakened  are 
soon  seriously  disordered,  and  all  the  time  the  whole  sys- 
tem is  sympathizing  with  them  and  suffering  like  derange- 
ment ;  the  nerves  are  unstrung ;  all  the  various  functions 
are  impaired  ;  the  muscles  become  soft  and  flabby  or  fat ;, 
good  health  has  gone  and  disease  is  imminent. 

These  are  some  of  the  evil  consequences  of  a  denial  of 
sufficient  exercise  ;  but  there  are  yet  others,  and  by  no 
means  the  least  serious  of  them  is  the  peculiar  tendency 
on  the  part  of  the  victims  to  accumulate  too  much  fat, 
which  is  not  alone  deposited  under  the  skin  and  in  the 
muscles  of  the  body,  but  in  and  around  the  heart  and 
other  vital  organs.  No  one  needs  to  be  told  that  meat 
which  is  lean  is  tough  while  that  which  is  fat  is  tender ; 
all  may  not  know,  however,  that  the  difference  is  due  not 
only  to  the  presence  of  the  fat  but  to  its  degenerating 
influence  upon  the  muscle  fibres.  The  heart — which  is  a 
muscle  —  and  all  other  muscles  are  weakened  as  they  are 
encroached  upon  by  fat,  and  even  if  the  same  is  merely 
deposited  around  them  it  mechanically  interferes  with 
their  workings.  Too  fat  dogs,  like  corpulent  men,  have 
generally  fatty  hearts  ;  moreover,  they  are  "short-winded,'^ 
easily  tired  by  exertion  and  singularly  inclined  to  be  con- 
stantly ailing. 

Evidences  of  too  close  confinement  are  plainly  mani- 
fested in  dogs,  but  unfortunately  they  are  seldom  rightly 
interpreted,  and  oftentimes  other  influences,  which  if 
related  are  only  distantly  so,  are  held  entirely  responsi- 
ble for  them.  For  instance,  people  chain  up  their  dogs 
and  give  them  meat,  and  if  they  become  savage  this  food 
alone  is  blamed  for  it.     As  a  matter  of  fact  the  restraint 


EXERCISE.  97 

is  very  generally  the  cause  of  the  changed  demeanor,  for 
under  it  good  brisk  circulation  and  healthy  organic  action 
—  which  promote  buoyancy  of  spirit  and  contentment  — 
are  simply  impossible,  and  these  happy  conditions  must 
invariably  give  way  to  languor  and  irritability  if  not 
ferocity. 

There  is  no  reason  why  a  sound  and  healthy  puppy 
should  not  develop  well  and  harmoniously  if  he  is  treated 
properly,  but  it  is  a  deplorable  fact  that  a  well-proportioned 
and  symmetrically  built  dog  is  far  from  the  rule,  and  espe- 
cially among  those  raised  in  thickly  settled  places,  where 
dogs  are  often  trained  to  the  chain  at  the  earliest  possible 
age,  and  long  before  they  have  reached  maturity  are  wrung- 
at  the  shoulders  and  dragged  out  of  shape  in  consequence 
of  their  constant  tugging. 

It  is  simply  the  height  of  cruelty  to  keep  a  dog  on  the 
chain  or  otherwise  too  closely  confined,  for  not  only  will 
it  break  him  in  spirit,  make  him  dull  and  sullen  and  gnarl 
his  body,  but  it  must  undermine  his  constitution  and  bring 
upon  him  a  long  train  of  evils,  prominent  among  which 
are  indigestion,  eczema,  disease  of  the  kidneys,  poverty  of 
the  blood,  rheumatism  and  even  convulsions. 

There  is  also  a  moral  responsibility  that  must  not  be 
lost  sight  of  while  weighing  this  fault.  A  man  may  say 
that  his  dog  is  his  own  to  do  with  as  he  likes  ;  and  this  is 
true,  yet  not  by  any  means  in  the  widest  sense,  for  he  has 
no  more  right  to  abuse  his  dog  than  he  has  to  abuse  his 
child.  In  either  instance  he  equally  ill-treats  one  of  God's 
creatures  and  in  the  sight  of  Heaven  stands  convicted  of 
an  outrage  alike  in  kind  if  not  degree. 

It  must  now  be  evident  that  the  subject  of  exercise 
deserves  more  attention  than  is  usually  given  it,  and  that 
when  properly  regulated  it  not  only  promotes  well-bal- 
anced growth  in  the  muscles  and  bones,  and  sustains  and 


9^  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

improves  the  bodily  health,  but  without  it  good  form, 
health  and  vigor  are  absolutely  impossible.  And  if  these 
facts  have  been  impressed  upon  the  minds  of  readers 
the  space  devoted  to  this  preamble  will  have  been  well 
employed. 

Diverting  the  subject  to  puppies,  obviously  they  can 
be  raised  in  large  towns  and  cities,  but,  as  with  young 
children,  the  country  is  pre-eminently  the  best  place  for 
them  until  they  are  well  on  the  way  to  maturity,  because 
of  its  superior  hygienic  advantages  and  opportunities  for 
greater  freedom.  It  is,  indeed,  a  fact  that  country-bred 
puppies  develop  far  better  than  those  raised  in  cities,  and 
while  the  former  generally  show  up  plump,  strong,  active 
and  hardy,  as  often  the  latter  are  sadly  deficient  in  these 
eminent  qualities.  And  for  puppies  which  are  to  be 
eventually  trained  for  field  work  the  country  specially 
recommends  itself,  for  it  abounds  in  common  sights  — 
as  cows,  sheep,  hens,  pigeons,  etc.  —  with  which  it  is 
very  essential  that  they  should  be  familiar  before  their 
education  commences,  otherwise  it  must  be  an  extremely 
difficult  task  to  teach  them  and  hold  them  down  to  their 
lessons. 

Puppies  kept  within  doors  and  in  small  pens  seldom  if 
ever  develop  properly,  but  go  over  on  their  legs  and  feet 
and  fall  out  of  shape  generally.  Lack  of  exercise,  which 
prevents  their  muscles  from  growing  and  strengthening 
as  they  ought,  is  largely  responsible  for  these  defects,  but 
not  entirely,  for  impure  air,  want  of  sufficient  sunshine 
and  other  unhealthful  influences  are  all  active  and  tend  to 
produce  them  by  undermining  the  constitution  and  open- 
ing the  door  to  rickets.  The  largest  breeds  are  the  first 
to  decline  under  these  influences,  and  so  difficult  is  it  to 
raise  them  except  where  the  conditions  are  favorable  and 
abundant  opportunities  for  exercise  in  pure  air  and  sun- 


EXERCISE.  99 

shine  are  afforded,  fanciers  of  experience  generally  let 
their  bitches  "  go  over  "  if  they  come  in  use  in  the  fall  or 
early  winter. 

It  follows,  therefore,  that  puppies  which  cannot  have 
constant  liberty  must  be  provided  with  yards  —  the 
largest  possible  —  that  they  may  be  out  and  playing 
about  on  pleasant  days.  And  at  least  one  side  of  thesj 
enclosures  —  preferably  that  facing  the  master's  house  — 
should  be  of  wire  netting  or  narrow  boards  nailed  on  per- 
pendicularly, with  spaces  of  not  less  than  an  inch  between 
them  and  extending  to  the  ground,  that  the  puppies  may 
easily  see  out  while  on  all  fours,  for  were  they  to  stand 
much  on  their  hind  legs  to  look  over  or  through  the  sides 
they  would  be  quite  sure  to  suffer  deformity  in  those 
parts. 

The  yards  should  be  invariably  so  located  that  all  parts 
of  them  will  receive  direct  rays  of  the  sun  during  a  consid- 
erable portion  of  every  day,  because  it  is  utterly  impossi- 
ble for  a  puppy  to  thrive  and  grow  strong  and  rugged  in 
quarters  to  which  they  are  inaccessible  ;  moreover,  where 
the  sun  cannot  enter  disease  is  sure  to  be  lurking. 

The  terribly  destructive  influences  of  filth  on  health 
must  also  be  duly  appreciated,  and  provisions  made  for  free 
drainage  and  to  favor  easy  and  thorough  cleaning.  While 
if  the  yards  are  covered  with  loam,  gravel,  sand  or  other 
material  that  is  capable  of  absorbing  moisture,  a  hard  sur- 
face will  be  absolutely  necessary, otherwise  it  must  soon 
become  loaded  with  impurities,  the  emanations  from  which 
would  prove  in  a  high  degree  poisonous. 

Consequently  the  ground  having  been  sloped  it  should 
be  flagged,  cemented  or  covered  with  other  concrete ; 
after  which  it  will  be  easy  to  clean  the  surface  thor- 
oughly, and  to  this  end  the  hose  should  be  used  every 
day  in  summer  and  quite  frequently  in  winter. 


lOO  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

After  puppies  are  three  months  old,  at  all  times  when 
the  weather  is  fine  they  can  be  allowed  to  leave  their  ken- 
nels at  will  and  enter  their  yards,  each  of  which  should  be 
provided  with  a  low  bench  for  them  to  lie  on  when  tired 
of  play,  and  an  old  piece  of  canvas  or  something  of  the 
sort  to  cover  a  corner  of  the  enclosure  on  very  hot  days. 
But  younger  puppies  must  not  be  turned  into  yards  and 
left  to  themselves,  for  were  it  done  and  they  permitted  to 
lie  on  flags  or  concrete,  even  in  hot  weather  they  would 
be  likely  to  suffer  serious  injury  in  consequence.  There- 
fore always  while  these  youngsters  are  out  they  should 
be  kept  on  the  move  and  returned  to  quarters  for  their 
naps. 

When  it  is  impossible  to  provide  a  yard  with  a  hard  sur- 
face and  the  other  conditions  —  ample  sunlight,  etc.  — 
advised,  instead  of  using  indifferent  quarters  the  owner 
should  give  the  puppies  the  run  of  his  own  dooryard  and 
lawns,  being  careful  always  while  yet  they  are  very  young 
not  to  let  them  out  until  the  ground  is  dry.  And  he 
should  keep  in  mind  the  fact,  already  made  prominent  in 
"  Feeding,"  that  in  order  that  puppies  may  be  generously 
fed  and  thrive  as  they  ought  and  come  up  firm  and  strong 
on  good  and  shapely  legs  and  feet  they  must  be  kept  on 
the  move  much  of  the  time  between  daylight  and  dark. 

A  yard  suitable  for  older  puppies  and  mature  dogs  has 
certain  conditions  which  are  important  enough  to  deserve 
description  here. 

It  goes  without  saying  that  in  every  instance  it  should 
be  as  large  as  possible.  For  dogs  of  varieties  of  fairly 
good  size,  pickets  three  or  four  inches  in  width  and  eight 
feet  long  may  be  used  in  building  the  fence  ;  and  they,  by 
the  way,  should  be  nailed  on  inside  the  rails. 

After  the  posts  have  been  set  in  place  a  trench  not  less 
than  one  foot  in  depth  should  be  dug  between  them  in 


SMOOTH-CO ATKI>   RETRIEVERS. 


>ioo\stom: 


"  i>are:vth. 


EXERCISE.  lOI 

which  to  sink  the  pickets,  and  in  filling  this  stones  that 
can  be  conveniently  gathered  should  be  mixed  with  the 
dirt,  and  all  tamped  down  as  hard  as  possible. 

The  pickets  now  stand  seven  feet  above  ground,  and 
unless  the  tenant  of  the  yard  is  of  small  breed  this  is  none 
too  high,  for  even  among  heavy  and  seemingly  clumsy 
dogs  there  are  not  a  few  that  can  make  their  way  over  a 
fence  six  feet  in  height. 

To  save  the  pickets  from  being  gnawed  two  or  more 
base  boards  will  be  required,  and  these  should  be  from 
six  to  eight  inches  in  width  and  about  three  inches  apart. 

A  fence  of  this  sort  freely  admits  the  air  and  sunshine, 
and  the  rails  being  on  the  outside  and  nothing  within  to 
afford  a  foothold,  to  jump  it  is  well-nigh  impossible.  If, 
however,  an  inmate  succeeded  in  making  his  way  over, 
there  would  be  nothing  to  do  but  to  build  the  fence 
higher,  although  some  advise  putting  a  ledge  around  the 
tops  of  the  pickets  for  the  jumper  to  strike  his  head 
against.  But  this  plan  is  not  advisable,  for  the  blow  or 
fall  might  cause  serious  injury,  and  one  should  not  take 
any  chances  with  good  dogs. 

A  fence  of  pickets  has  been  advised  for  the  reasons  that 
it  is  cheaper  than  any  other,  is  easily  constructed  and 
quite  durable.  Without  doubt,  however,  an  iron  fence  is 
the  best  and  safest  in  every  way,  but  such  is  expensive, 
although  not  necessarily  very  decidedly  so  if  made  of  rods 
passed  through  top  and  bottom  rails  spiked  to  posts  and 
set  at  about  the  same  distances  from  the  ground  as  the 
rails  of  picket  fences  of  about  the  same  height. 

A  more  sightly  fence  than  one  of  wooden  pickets  can 
be  made  of  wire-netting,  and  were  the  same  closely  woven 
and  of  wire  of  good  size  it  would  do  nicely  were  the  dogs 
of  small  breeds.  But  this  netting  must  be  very  strong  to 
hold  a  large  dog. 


302  KENNEL    SECRETS. 

While  a  picket  fence  constructed  as  described  is  suita- 
ble for  most  dogs,  there  are  a  few  notorious  burrowers  and 
o-nawers  —  working  terriers  and  dachshunds,  for  instance, 

which  can  only  be  held  by  a  "  close-board  "  fence  having 

a  foundation  of  large  stones  to  a  depth  of  two  feet.  And 
this  fact  suggests  the  advisability  of  all  making  themselves 
familiar  with  the  peculiarities  of  the  dogs  which  they  are 
purchasing  before  they  undertake  to  build  quarters  for 
them. 

The  ground  within  every  dog  yard  ought  to  be  sloping, 
that  rapid  drainage  may  occur  after  rain  falls.  And  it 
should  be  given  a  hard  surface  as  advised  for  puppy  yards. 
But  the  subject  of  expense  is  one  that  must  be  considered 
by  many  readers,  therefore  it  becomes  necessary  to  advise 
how  the  ground  should  be  treated  when  it  is  impossible  to 
cover  it  with  flags,  cement  or  other  concrete. 

If  the  soil  is  rich  or  the  subsoil  of  clay,  and  in  fact  if  it 
is  other  than  sandy  or  gravelly,  the  surface  must  inevita- 
bly be  very  soft  and  muddy  during  many  days  of  the  year 
unless  there  is  good  drainage.  The  easiest  and  least 
expensive  means  to  this  end,  and  one  very  nearly  as  effec- 
tive as  any  in  ground  like  this,  is  known  as  the  blind-drain. 
And  a  sufficient  number  of  these  drains  having  been  laid, 
the  surface  of  the  entire  yard  should  be  covered  to  the 
depth  of  three  or  four  inches  with  sand,  coal-dust  or  ashes, 
by  which  means  it  will  be  made  comparatively  dry ;  and 
that  it  should  be  so  is  of  the  highest  importance,  for 
dampness  has  a  most  destructive  influence  on  dogs,  and 
especially  those  that  are  under  restraint  —  in  fact  there  is 
scarcely  a  more  potent  cause  of  disease. 

In  all  yards  there  should  be  a  comfortably  large  bench 
for  the  dogs  to  lie  upon,  and  this  can  properly  have  a  roof 
over  it  at  all  times,  also  back  and  sides  in  cold  weather, 
during  which   it   should  stand  in  the  most  sunny  place, 


EXERCISE.  105 

while  in  summer  it  should  be  much  in  the  shade,  for 
dogs  are  frequently  victims  of  what  is  evidently  sun- 
stroke. 

Here,  as  in  puppy  yards,  frequent  cleaning  is  impera- 
tively demanded,  and  especially  in  hot  weather,  when  the 
heat  acting  upon  filth  makes  it  literally  a  hot-bed  for  dis- 
ease.  And,  by  the  way,  the  breeder  is  especially  fortu- 
nate who  is  so  situated  that  he  can  provide  two  kennels 
and  two  yards  for  his  puppies  so  that  one  set  can  be  used 
one  day,  then  vacated  and  thoroughly  washed  out  and  left 
to  dry  until  the  following  day,  when  it  can  be  again  occu- 
pied and  the  other  treated  in  the  same  manner. 

While  insisting  that  all  puppies  and  dogs  should  have 
yards  in  which  to  exercise  themselves  and  take  the  air  on 
pleasant  days  the  fact  is  duly  appreciated  that  in  occa- 
sional instances  this  provision  will  be  absolutely  impossi- 
ble ;  and  these  appear  in  cities,  in  many  sections  of  which 
the  breathing  spaces  between  the  houses  are  often  only  a 
few  feet  in  width,  and  in  which  it  is  the  common  custom 
to  chain  dogs  to  small  out-door  kennels  during  the  day 
and  admit  them  to  the  kitchens  or  basements  at  night. 
But  even  in  the  presence  of  such  unfavorable  conditions 
the  owners  can  manage  to  lessen  somewhat  the  force  of 
the  confinement. 

Where  the  door-yards  of  houses  are  very  small  the  fol- 
lowing is  often  resorted  to  with  merciful  effect  :  A  post 
long  enough  to  extend  at  least  six  feet  above  ground  is  set 
up  ten,  twenty  or  thirty  feet  —  as  far  as  possible  from  the 
kennel  —  and  to  this  post  is  made  fast  a  telegraph  wire. 
After  stringing  on  the  same  a  strong,  well-made  ring  at 
least  two  inches  in  diameter,  the  free  end  of  the  wire  is 
attached  to  a  building,  fence  or  another  post  like  the  first 
in  the  rear  of  the  kennel  if  a  small  one,  while  to  the  ring 
sliding  freely  on  the  wire  the  chain  of  the  dog  is  fastened 


I04  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

with  a  snaffle  hook.  Then  although  held  in  check  he  has 
still  quite  a  range. 

The  amount  of  exercise  required  by  dogs  varies  in  the 
different  breeds  also  in  different  members  of  the  same 
breed,  therefore  it  would  be  quite  as  impossible  to  fix  a 
rule  applicable  to  all  as  it  would  be  to  fashion  a  mask  that 
would  fit  the  faces  of  all  mankind.  The  largest  dogs  as  a 
whole  are  singularly  sluggish  and  inactive  if  left  to  them- 
selves, consequently  they  are  more  trouble  to  their  owners, 
who  must  take  them  out  at  least  once  a  day  and  give 
them  slow,  steady  exercise  for  an  hour  or  more.  The 
smaller  varieties,  on  the  other  hand,  are  in  the  habit  of 
leaping  and  scampering  about  as  soon  as  they  are  released, 
and  therefore  make  considerable  exercise  for  themselves 
in  a  comparatively  short  time. 

But  a  wide  distinction  must  be  made  between  the  sport- 
ing and  non-sporting  in  the  matter  of  exercise.  Both 
varieties  must  have  it,  yet  a  denial  falls  far  more  heavily 
on  the  former  than  on  the  latter,  for  as  a  whole  they  have 
a  very  much  greater  fund  of  energy  and  spirits,  and  when 
restrained  become  nervous  and  restless,  and  in  conse- 
quence more  or  less  physically  deranged.  And  to  them  a 
spin  of  from  five  to  ten  miles  at  least  ought  to  be  given 
every  day  in  order  to  keep  them  good  and  hard ;  while 
they  would  be  all  the  better  were  the  distance  twice  as 
great. 

The  fact  must  not  be  lost  sight  of  that  to  obtain 
the  greatest  good  from  exercise  it  must  be  made  attrac- 
tive and  enjoyable.  Considering  which  it  is  advisable  to 
take  all  dogs  of  whatever  varieties  for  long  strolls  as  often 
as  possible ;  and  where  spins  are  out  of  the  question,  if 
these  outings  are  indulged  in  two  or  three  times  a  week 
and  on  the  intervening  days  the  dogs  are  let  loose  and 
encouraged  to  exercise  themselves  vigorously  for  half  an 


EXERCISE.  105 

hour  or  so  mornings  and  nights  they  will  generally  man- 
age to  keep  their  systems  in  fairly  good  tone.  It  some- 
times becomes  necessary,  however,  to  put  dogs  in  training, 
as  for  shows,  coursing,  etc.,  or  to  give  them  an  unusual 
amount  of  exercise  for  the  purpose  of  restoring  health  ; 
in  which  case  the  reader  will  find  much  to  assist  him  in 
the  part  devoted  to  "Exhibiting  Dogs." 

It  is  an  excellent  plan  to  teach  a  young  dog  to  run  after 
a  ball  and  retrieve  it,  for  ever  afterward  on  occasions 
when  he  must  be  denied  his  usual  stroll  his  master  can 
by  this  means  limber  him  up  very  quickly  and  at  the  same 
time  afford  him  a  great  deal  of  enjoyment.  Some  breeders 
resort  to  a  piece  of  dried  beef  or  fresh  skin  to  encourage 
exercise  in  the  yards,  hanging  it  just  beyond  the  reach  of 
the  dogs,  and  at  this  many  of  them  will  jump  at  frequent 
intervals.  Some,  also,  favor  exercise  by  stretching  hur- 
dles across  the  yards,  over  which  the  inmates  must  jump 
as  they  make  their  way  about  —  a  device  which  recom- 
mends itself  especially  with  dogs  that  lack  development 
in  their  hind  quarters. 

There  is  also  the  "wheel"  and  the  so-called  "tread- 
mill," which  latter  is  built  on  the  same  principles  as 
the  power  part  of  threshing  and  wood-sawing  machines 
worked  by  horses.  Fighting  dogs  are  trained  largely  on 
the  former  and  they  are  also  taught  to  seize  and  hold  on  to 
an  empty  bag,  piece  of  carpet  or  the  like,  which  is  strung 
high  enough  to  prevent  their  legs  touching  the  ground. 
This  gives  strength  to  the  jaws,  and  in  fact  to  all  the  fore 
parts  and  muscles,  and  so  renders  the  dogs  capable  of 
maintaining  their  hold  for  a  long  time  once  they  have 
fixed  their  jaws.  And  they  who  have  bull  terriers,  for 
instance,  would  do  well  to  give  them  a  part  of  their  exer- 
cise in  this  way. 

While  dogs  are  out  for  exercise  their  owners  or  care- 


I06  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

takers  should  not  be  unmindful  of  the  fact  that  to  push  it 
past  the  point  of  fatigue  will  cause  even  greater  injury 
than  a  denial,  and  it  will  be  well  for  them  in  regulating 
the  amount  to  be  largely  influenced  by  the  effects  upon 
themselves  under  like  conditions.  The  brain-worker  of 
sedentary  habits  knows  well  that  were  he  without  any 
preparatory  work  to  run  a  half,  or  even  a  quarter,  of  a  mile 
at  the  top  of  his  speed  he  would  be  literally  "  broken  up," 
and  for  several  days  suffer  in  consequence  of  the  indis- 
cretion, even  if  he  escaped  serious  and  lasting  injury. 

And  yet  such  a  man  is  not  at  all  unlikely  to  unchain  his 
old  dog,  but  rarely  released  from  his  kennel,  and  make 
him  follow  his  team  until  he  drops  from  exhaustion.  And 
often  men  who  now  and  then  hunt  for  a  day  will  lay  up 
their  dogs  for  months  even,  with  only  occasional  rambles 
in  the  streets  and  always  at  heel,  and  without  any  pre- 
paratory exercise  send  them  into  the  field  and  make  them 
"  run  their  legs  off."  Assuredly  that  such  inflictions  as 
these  are  simply  barbarous  and  ruinous  to  health  must  be 
self-evident  to  every  person  having  a  fair  amount  of  intel- 
ligence. 

Never  allow  a  dog  to  take  violent  exercise  within  two 
hours  after  eating  a  hearty  meal.  Prepare  him  for  hard 
work  as  the  athlete  is  trained  —  by  easy  stages  —  remem- 
bering always  that  the  development  of  strength  and  endur- 
ance requires  time  as  well  as  exercise,  also  that  one  too 
hard  run  while  the  system  is  unprepared  is  sure  to 
derange  it  seriously  and  may  produce  convulsions  and 
grave  organic  disease. 

"The  merciful  man  will  be  merciful  to  his  beast."  Let 
owners  bear  in  mind  that  were  they  to  take  a  brisk  walk 
and  while  heated  up  stop  and  lie  down  uncovered  in  a 
cold  room  they  could  scarcely  escape  the  penalties  of  the 
indiscretion,  no  matter  how  hardy  they  might  be.     Duly 


CrRLY-COATEl>   RETRIEVKRS. 


TIVKUTOA    VU  TOR. 


Bl.AfK   <;iPSY. 


TIIK   POi:VTER,    «'  BEAlTf  ORT. 


EXERCISE.  107 

appreciating  this  very  evident  fact  they  will  not  be  likely 
to  turn  their  dogs  into  the  kennels  after  a  hard  run  with- 
out rubbing  them  down  and  drying  them  as  they  would 
their  horses  after  a  like  experience.  Nor  will  they  fail  to 
have  an  eye  to  their  feet,  realizing  as  they  must  that  a 
splinter  or  bit  of  glass  may  have  been  taken  up  or  a  cut 
received,  in  which  event  serious  trouble  might  result 
were  the  accident  not  discovered  early. 

A  word  here  as  to  dogs  much  used  in  the  stud.  They 
should  not  work  in  the  field  nor  be  allowed  in  other  ways 
to  exert  themselves  violently,  but  should  be  kept  at  home 
most  of  the  time,  in  large  yards,  and  when  taken  out  be 
given  long,  slow,  steady  exercise.  Their  special  duty  is  a 
tax  upon  their  energies,  and  if  required  to  perform  it 
often,  high  health  and  vigor  cannot  be  maintained  unless 
every  precaution  is  observed. 

The  first  step  is  to  prevent  muscular  strain  —  as  that 
occurring  in  hard  runs  —  which  means  a  wasteful  expendi- 
ture of  vitality.  Such  exercise,  by  the  way,  is  considered 
by  many  breeders  not  only  harmless  but  absolutely  essen- 
tial to  good  development  of  the  muscles.  But  this  is  an 
absurdity,  pure  and  simple,  for  it  is  upon  the  duration  and 
number  of  movements,  not  upon  their  intensity,  that  the 
development  of  a  muscle  depends.  For  instance  the  man 
who  exercises  for  ten  minutes  with  dumb-bells  weighing 
two  pounds  each  and  puts  them  up  thirty  times  a  minute 
will  develop  the  muscles  worked  far  more  quickly  than  he 
who  uses  ten-pound  dumb-bells  for  the  same  period  and 
puts  them  up  only  eight  or  ten  times  a  minute.  More- 
over, were  both  beginners  the  former  would  likely  gain  and 
the  latter  lose  strength,  and  the  loss  would  be  attributable 
to  the  muscular  strains. 

Obviously,  therefore,  hard  and  fast  work  is  not  only  not 
necessary    to    muscular   development    and    strength    but 


Io8  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

beyond  certain  lines  it  is  prejudicial  to  it.  Hence,  slow, 
easy  exercise  alone  is  proper  and  safe  for  the  dog  that 
is  much  used  in  the  stud  ;  and  under  it  he  will  not 
only  husband  his  strength  and  vitality  but  add  to 
the  fund,  which  must  always  be  large  to  insure  robust 
and  vigorous  offspring.  And  were  this  rule  never  vio- 
lated and  stud  dogs  wisely  and  generously  fed,  the  rate 
of  mortality  among  puppies  would  be  much  lower  than 
it  is  now,  and  crooked  forelegs,  cow-hocks,  and  other 
deformities,  far  less  familiar  sights. 


CHAPTER   VIII. 


THE    DRINKING    WATER. 


Many  have  reached  the  conclusion  that  because  dogs 
will  drink  from  stagnant  pools  it  is  a  matter  of  indiffer- 
ence to  them  whether  or  not  their  water  is  clean  and 
fresh.  Man  will  also  drink  from  such  pools  when  tor- 
tured by  thirst,  yet  he  does  not  try  to  convince  himself 
that  it  is  refreshing  and  wholesome.  Far  from  it.  He 
practically  acknowledges  always  that  the  influence  of 
the  drinking  water  is  cardinal  in  rank  with  food,  and 
that  when  polluted  both  are  alike  injurious  to  health. 

But  such  inconsistency  is  not  unusual  with  him  ;  he  is 
in  fact  constantly  exhibiting  the  same  fault  in  dealing  with 
simple  truths  which  bear  upon  his  own  health,  and  ever 
slow  to  recognize  their  importance  in  the  practical  ar- 
rangements of  life.  Consequently  many  which  he  ought 
to  admit  unhesitatingly,  so  obviously  based  as  they  are  on 
sound  sense,  must  be  literally  forced  upon  him. 

Yet  to  his  credit  it  can  be  said  that  while  slow  to  ac- 
cept what  is  best  for  his  own  physical  welfare  or  even 
pay  due  respect  to  his  own  instincts  he  is  but  seldom  re- 
luctant to  respect  the  instincts  of  animals  to  which  he  is 

109 


no  KENNEL  SECRETS. 

attached,  and  which  as  a  rule  he  treats  with  greater  consid- 
eration and  better  judgment  than  he  does  himself;  and  if 
he  fails  with  them  he  generally  does  so  through  ignorance. 
Narrowing  the  subject  to  the  drinking  water  of  dogs,  it 
is  hard  to  believe  that  they  are  often  intentionally  neg- 
lected, but  it  is  easier  to  believe  that  the  absurdity  noted 
in  the  beginning  is  largely  accountable  for  such  familiar 
practices  as  supplying  dogs  with  water  but  once  or  twice 
a  day  even  during  the  hottest  weather,  and  in  old  wooden 
pails  that  have  seen  months  and  months  of  service  and 
are  thickly  coated  with  slime,  like  the  "  old  oaken  bucket  " 
of  which  the  poet — who  was  evidently  ignorant  of  even 
the  first  principles  of  hygiene  — has  so  fondly  told. 

A  glance  at  the  physiology  of  animals  shows  that  nearly 
three-fourths  of  the  bodies  of  all  consist  of  water  and  that 
they  part  with  a  large  amount  of  it  constantly  by  the 
lungs,  skin  and  other  avenues.  Consequently  in  order 
that  health  may  be  maintained  there  must  be  a  constant 
renewal  of  this  simple  but  highly  important  fluid,  and  it 
must  be  good  and  wholesome. 

Water  may  be  all  this  when  placed  before  a  dog  but  if 
cannot  long  remain  so  in  the  air  of  a  kennel  or  yard  where 
there  is  more  or  less  decaying  vegetable  and  animal  food 
•and  other  filth,  for  it  soon  absorbs  these  baneful  exhalations 
and  actually  becomes  to  a  certain  degree  poisonous. 
Furthermore,  when  so  exposed  and  stagnant  it  frequently 
takes  up  germs  of  disease,  many  of  which  float  easily  on 
the  air.  And  if  the  pail  or  other  vessel  in  which  it  stands 
is  lined  with  slimy  accumulations  it  is  very  evident  that 
it  must  soon  become  tainted  from  this  source  if  from  no 
other. 

As  a  matter  of  fact,  because  they  are  denied  sufficient 
good,  wholesome  drinking  water  is  one  of  the  pronounced 
reasons  why  dogs  kept  chained  or  otherwise  closely  con- 


THE    DRINKING     WATER.  Ill 

fined  are  frequently  ailing.  And  wherever  this  fault  has 
been  constant  for  a  considerable  length  of  time  nutrition 
is  poor ;  the  victims  as  a  rule  are  under  weight,  show 
their  ribs,  have  a  tucked-up  appearance  and  are  out  at 
their  elbows  ;  their  hair  is  dry  and  lustreless  ;  they  are 
given  to  scratching,  and  much  of  the  time  have  more  or 
less  extensive  skin  eruptions. 

A  change  of  demeanor  also  usually  characterizes  them, 
and  instead  of  being  keen,  alert  and  active  they  are  more 
or  less  dull,  listless  and  sluggish.  Again,  when  not  actu- 
ally ailing  their  appetite  is  often  capricious,  and  symp- 
toms are  frequently  manifested  —  appreciable,  perhaps, 
only  to  the  trained  eye  —  which  indicate  that  they  have 
some  disorder,  and  generally  of  the  digestive  system,  kid- 
neys or  bladder. 

Manifestly,  therefore,  the  drinking  water  should  be 
above  suspicion,  .and  where  it  is  obtainable  only  from 
wells  and  must  be  carried  to  the  kennels  by  hand  a  fresh 
supply  is  required  at  least  three  times  daily  in  cold 
weather  and  twice  as  often  during  hot  weather.  The 
drinking  vessels  must  also  be  kept  clean.  And  these,  in- 
stead of  being  old  tin  pans  or  cans,  or  of  wood,  should  be 
of  earthen-ware  or  iron  with  glazed  or  enamelled  linings. 

But  he  who  gets  together  a  kennel  of  ten  or  more  dogs 
and  is  obliged  to  intrust  their  care  largely  to  "  help " 
must  soon  learn  that  faithful  obedience  during  his  absence 
is  by  no  means  invariably  the  rule,  and  that  the  chances 
are  that  if  neglect  is  exhibited  it  will  be  in  the  matter  of 
watering ;  consequently  the  safest  course  to  pursue  is  to 
provide  running  water. 

On  first  thought  this  may  seem  to  necessitate  consid- 
erable outlay,  yet  such  will  be  rarely  the  case  where  the 
kennels  and  yards  are  located  near  the  owner's  residence 
and  that  is  piped  and  furnished  with  water  from  a  com- 


112  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

mon  supply,  as  in  all  large  towns  and  cities.  And  if 
small  rubber  hose  will  not  do  for  connecting  pipes,  it  be- 
ing necessary  to  convey  the  water  a  considerable  distance, 
small  iron  piping  can  be  bought  for  a  mere  song. 

But  whatever  the  situation,  unless  of  course  the  dogs' 
quarters  are  very  distant  from  the  main  supply,  to  pipe 
them  will  be  comparatively  easy  and  far  less  expensive 
than  one  uninformed  would  suppose.  And  excluding  the 
fact  that  it  is  a  most  merciful  provision  and  considering 
it  solely  from  the  standpoint  of  economy  it  must  cor- 
dially recommend  itself. 

At  this  point  the  writer  is  reminded  that  some  who 
have  written  on  the  management  of  dogs,  while  not  abso- 
lutely condemning  the  custom,  have  yet  questioned  the  ad- 
visability of  keeping  water  constantly  before  them,  giving 
as  a  reason  that  too  frequent  lapping  would  likely  become 
a  habit  that  would  be  prejudicial  to  health. 

This  theory  does  not  suggest  itself  as  a  sound  one.  In 
truth  the  desire  for  water  is  increased  by  frequent  indul- 
gences, and  they  in  turn  increase  tissue  change  and  thus 
multiply  the  products  of  tissue  waste  which  result  from 
it.  But  water  removes  these  waste  products  as  fast  as 
they  are  formed,  and  in  consequence  of  the  various 
changes  the  appetite  is  increased.  Hence  water  may  be 
said  to  act  as  a  true  tonic. 

Where  too  much  water  is  drunk  the  tissue  change  is  in- 
creased to  such  an  extent  that  the  body  must  waste  rapidly 
unless  there  is  an  increase  in  the  quantity  of  food  suffi- 
cient to  compensate  for  the  loss.  For  instance,  if  a  cor- 
pulent person  will  drink  two  gallons  of  water  every 
twenty-four  hours  and  meanwhile  limit  himself  to  the 
same  quantity  of  food  daily  to  which  he  was  accustomed 
before  the  experiment  he  will  rapidly  pull  down  in  weight. 
But    he   will    require   a   tremendous  will-power  to  resist 


THE  DRINK  I  AG    WA  TER.  I  1 3 

his  appetite,  made  ravenous  by  the  greatly  increased  tissue 
change. 

It  is  scarcely  likely,  however,  that  dogs  will  carry  the 
water-drinking  habit  to  that  point  where  the  body  must 
waste  in  consequence  ;  and  even  were  they  to  do  so  it 
would  be  necessary  merely  to  increase  the  quantity  of  food. 

As  excess  of  water  augments  tissue  change  a  diminu- 
tion of  water  lessens  it,  and  when  this  change  has  fallen 
below  the  normal  the  waste  products  —  which  may  be 
compared  to  the  ashes  from  a  fire  —  are  formed  faster  than 
they  are  removed,  and  the  system,  choking  up  with  them, 
is  peculiarly  liable  to  disease.  Now  apply  the  rake  in  the 
form  of  water  and  the  products  in  question  will  be  removed 
and  health  restored. 

The  writer  has  made  experiments  on  mongrels  for  the 
purpose  of  determining  the  effects  of  a  denial  of  sufficient 
water,  and  his  kennel  being  supplied  with  running  water 
he  has  had  ample  opportunity  of  judging  of  the  effects  of 
an  unlimited  quantity.  The  conclusions  reached  are,  that 
dogs  can  safely  be  given  all  the  water  they  may  desire  to 
drink,  and  unless  they  have  all  they  want  they  fall  off  in 
condition.  He  has  also  satisfied  himself  that  a  dog  which 
is  closely  confined  not  only  drinks  more  but  actually 
needs  more  than  one  which  has  constant  liberty.  And 
not  impossibly  an  explanation  of  this  is,  that  a  dog  which 
exercises  freely,  by  this  means  in  a  great  measure  elimi- 
nates the  waste  products,  whereas  he  that  is  denied  exer- 
cise must  largely  depend  upon  water  for  their  removal, 
and  he  instinctively  drinks  more  to  this  end. 

The  difficulties  in  maintaining  healthfulness  among 
dogs  increase  with  the  number  that  are  kept  together,  and 
where  there  are  ten,  twenty  or  more,  the  owner  must  sur- 
round them  with  all  the  best  hygienic  conditions  possible 
and  be  precise  in  all  his  methods  of  management,  other- 


I  14  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

wise  they  will  fall  below  the  standard  of  health  and  be 
frequent  victims  of  disease.  It  can  safely  be  accepted 
also  that  among  all  the  conditions  of  health  in  a  kennel 
there  are  none  more  imperative  than  an  abundant  supply 
of  pure  water. 

Breeders  generally  fail  to  appreciate  the  fact  that  water 
is  quite  as  indispensable  to  the  welfare  of  young  puppies 
while  on  the  so-called  sloppy  foods  as  to  those  further 
advanced  in  life,  it  being  assumed  that  milk,  broths,  por- 
ridges, etc.,  are  capable  of  satisfying  thirst  and  furnishing 
all  the  water  required  to  meet  the  wants  of  the  system  ; 
and  for  this  reason  it  is  rarely  put  before  them  until  they 
are  six  or  seven  weeks  old. 

This  must  often  prove  a  serious  mistake.  Puppies  are 
notoriously  gourmand  and  when  allowed  to  do  so  will  eat 
until  abdominal  rupture  seems  threatened,  but  if  taught 
early  to  drink  water  and  encouraged  to  take  it  freely  and 
often,  their  capacity  for  food  will  be  narrowed  and  the 
danger  of  overeating  greatly  lessened  ;  moreover,  by  means 
of  it  digestion  will  be  greatly  favored. 

Now,  for  two  or  three  months  after  weaning,  these  little 
ones  are  very  liable  to  have  colic,  diarrhoea  and  other 
stomach  and  intestinal  disorders  which  frequently  result 
fatally,  and  even  if  recovery  takes  place  the  victims  have 
had  such  a  set-back  their  futures  are  prejudiced  and  they 
fail  to  thrive  and  mature  well.  But  that  such  attacks  are 
common  is  not  surprising  considering  how  puppies  are 
fed.  If  the  food  is  well  chosen — which  is  far  from  the 
rule  —  they  are  generally  allowed  to  overeat,  and  in  con- 
sequence their  stomachs  are  soon  dilated  and  weakened, 
and  the  lining  membrane  more  or  less  irritated.  Beyond 
this,  digestion  is  sluggish  ;  one  meal  is  not  disposed  of 
before  another  is  eaten,  and  most  of  the  time  there  are 
food  remnants  in  the   stomach  undergoing  decomposition 


THE  DRINKING    WATER.  II5 

and  causing  flatulency  or  what  is  popularly  termed  bloat- 
ing. Then  if  the  food  does  not  excite  thirst  the  irrita- 
tion in  the  stomach  must  inevitably  do  so  ;  and  in  young 
puppies  it  must  often  be  mistaken  for  hunger. 

If  milk,  for  instance,  is  given  it  will  subdue  the  uncom- 
fortable sensation  for  a  time,  but  its  fluid  portion  rapidly 
passes  through  the  stomach  and  leaves  the  solids,  which 
must  linger  to  undergo  digestion.  This  mass  aggravates 
the  stomach  irritation  and  therefore  the  thirst  is  more 
intense  than  before  the  milk  was  taken. 

There  is  yet  another  fact  that  deserves  emphasis,  namely, 
that  the  digestive  fluids  of  young  puppies  are  often  less 
active  and  potent  than  normal,  and  indigestion  is  the  con- 
sequence. Pure,  fresh  water  has  a  decided  corrective 
influence  upon  these  fluids  and  fortifies  them  to  no  incon- 
siderable extent,  hence  it  is  entitled  to  be  called  a  remedy. 

Summarizing  briefly  :  puppies  should  be  taught  to  drink 
water  at  the  earliest  age  possible,  and  thereafter  a  con- 
stant supply  that  is  pure,  fresh  and  inviting  should  be 
kept  before  them.  It  will  modify  somewhat  the  appetite, 
allay  irritation  in  the  stomach,  render  the  digestive  fluids 
more  active  if  they  are  weak,  and  mechanically  act  advan- 
tageously by  washing  food  remnants  down  and  out  of  the 
stomach.  All  of  which  must  greatly  favor  health  and 
lessen  the  liability  to  disease. 


CHAPTER    IX. 


WASHING    AND    GROOMING, 


The  skin  is  something  more  than  a  mere  covering  for 
the  body,  and  hterally  an  organ  which  to  some  extent 
shares  the  work  of  the  lungs  and  gives  off  carbonic  acid 
gas  and  other  waste  matters ;  moreover,  it  holds  the  sys- 
tem that  modifies  the  bodily  heat.  Obviously,  therefore, 
if  in  an  unclean  state  and  its  so-called  pores  are  choked 
with  impurities  it  cannot  perform  its  functions  of  elimi- 
nation, and  these  matters  must  make  their  way  out  by 
means  of  other  avenues  or  be  returned  to  the  blood  ;  nor 
will  it  be  easy  to  maintain  the  body  at  its  proper  temper- 
ature. 

The  skin  of  a  robust  dog  that  has  ample  exercise  is 
generally  in  a  good,  healthy  condition  and  rarely  requires 
washing,  for  he  often  induces  free  and  profuse  perspira- 
tion during  his  runs  and  so  flushes  the  pores,  while  by  oc- 
casional swims  and  rolls  in  the  grass  he  manages  to  keep 
the  surface  and  hair  fairly  clean.  But  with  him  that  is 
chained  most  of  the  time  or  otherwise  closely  confined 
frequent  washing  is  imperative,  for  the  thin,  fine  scales 
that  are  exfoliated  in  abundance  and  the   accumulations 

ii6 


WASHING  AND   GROOMING.  I17 

of  dust  and  dirt  choke  up  his  pores,  and  so  dam  up  the 
effete  matters  as  well  as  impair  the  activity  of  the  myriads 
of  little  glands  upon  the  integrity  of  which  greatly  de- 
pends the  health  of  the  skin  and  hair. 

It  is  scarcely  necessary  to  urge  that  the  effects  of  un- 
cleanliness  are  both  local  and  general,  or  in  other  words 
its  functions  being  interfered  with  not  only  is  the  skin 
itself  and  all  it  holds  more  or  less  unhealthy  but  the  gen- 
eral health  is  invariably  below  the  standard.  Moreover, 
the  scales  and  other  accumulations  excite  itching,  and  the 
scratching  in  turn  produces  eczema  and  kindred  eruptions. 
And  when  this  cause  —  lack  of  cleanliness  —  is  active  and 
persistent  the  injurious  effect  upon  the  hair  is  very  pro- 
nounced, it  being  dry,  staring  and  lustreless. 

While  washing  is  the  most  effective  means  of  maintain- 
ing cleanliness  its  frequent  application  is  decidedly  ob- 
jectionable, especially  if  soaps  of  ordinary  quality  are  used, 
for  the  hair  and  skin  must  become  too  dry  in  consequence 
of  being  obliged  to  part  with  much  of  the  oily  matter 
which  keeps  them  supple  and  smooth  ;  hence  it  should  be 
resorted  to  only  when  cleanliness  can  in  no  other  way  be 
secured  or  it  is  demanded  as  a  remedial  measure,  as  in 
cases  of  vermin  and  cutaneous  diseases. 

Under  ordinary  circumstances  frequent  grooming  will 
be  quite  sufficient  to  maintain  cleanliness  and  health  of 
the  skin  and  hair,  and  he  who  expects  to  keep  his  dog  in 
the  "pink  of  condition  "  must  faithfully  apply  it  not  less 
often  than  once  a  day. 

The  brushes  should  be  of  bristles  always,  and  what  is 
called  the  "dandy  brush"  for  short-coated  dogs,  while 
for  the  long-coated  the  bristles  must  be  nearly  if  not 
quite  an  inch  and  a  half  in  length,  in  order  to  pass  through 
the  coat  and  reach  the  skin. 

Instances  in  which  a  fine-tooth  comb  is  required  are  very 


Il8  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

rare  indeed  ;  and  this  is  fortunate,  for  except  in  the  hands 
of  a  most  careful  person  it  is  sure  to  irritate  the  skin  as 
well  as  seriously  endanger  the  coat.  The  comb  of  the 
kennel,  therefore,  should  be  of  the  coarsest  kind  —  its 
teeth  being  widely  set  and  very  blunt  at  the  ends. 

And  mindful  of  the  fact  that  parasitic  diseases  are 
quite  common  among  dogs,  also  that  they  are  frequently 
present  for  a  long  time  before  they  are  detected,  the 
careful  owner  of  two  or  more  dogs  will  provide  toilet  ar- 
ticles for  each.  He  will,  moreover,  clean  them  frequently 
by  placing  them  for  a  few  minutes  in  a  shallow  pan  con- 
taining a  disinfectant. 

The  brush  will  meet  all  positive  requirements,  but  there 
are  certain  accessories  which  must  be  resorted  to  if  a  fine 
coat  is  to  be  made  "  cherry  ripe,"  and  these  are  gloves  of 
woollen  yarn  or  hair — the  latter  for  choice  —  and  the 
bare  hands. 

To  first  brush  long  and  well,  then  rub  diligently  with 
the  gloves,  and  finally  with  the  bare  hands,  are  the  secrets 
of  the  toilet,  and  by  faithfully  applying  the  principles  em- 
bodied in  them  cleanliness  of  the  skin  can  be  maintained, 
the  hair  stimulated  to  healthy  growth  and  made  to  shine 
like  satin  if  it  is  naturally  fine. 

The  brush  and  gloves  should  be  applied  the  one 
way  always,  and  with,  not  against,  the  hair,  but  in  using 
the  bare  hands  on  dogs  which  ought  to  have  a  "  bossy 
muscle,"  as  bull-dogs,  bull  terriers  and  greyhounds,  the 
thighs  must  be  rubbed  both  ways  —  up  as  well  as  down  — 
and  afterward  the  ruffled  hair  be  made  right  by  brushing 
one  way  and  hand  rubbing  one  way.  And  lest  the  reader 
assume  that  the  use  of  the  bare  hands  is  the  least  impor- 
tant of  these  measures  the  fact  is  urged  that  it  is  of  the 
first  importance  in  putting  the  coat  of  a  fine-haired  dog  in 
prime  condition,  for  by  this  means  only  can  it  be  given 
the  highest  finish  and  lustre. 


POIXTEHS. 


<'  PRIA't'K'S    BOY." 


WASHIiXG  AND   GROOMING.  II9 

In  washing,  as  in  other  departments  of  management, 
knowledge,  care  and  judgment  must  often  be  displayed, 
notwithstanding  it  may  seem  to  the  average  reader  that  it 
is  simple  and  easy  always.  Very  likely  it  is  all  this  with 
short-coated  dogs,  but  with  those  whose  coats  are  long, 
soft  and  silky,  glistening  and  brilliant,  it  is  an  entirely 
different  matter,  and  to  wash  all  varieties  in  the  same 
way  would  be  to  ruin  the  coats  of  many  completely. 

For  instance,  the  coat  of  a  mastiff,  bull  terrier  or  pug 
could  scarcely  be  injured  in  the  tub,  nor  would  these  dogs 
be  likely  to  take  cold  after  a  bath  were  a  reasonable 
amount  of  intelligence  and  consideration  exhibited  with 
them,  but  the  novice  who  undertook  to  wash  a  collie 
might  make  bad  work  of  it,  and  certainly  the  chances 
would  be  all  in  favor  of  ruining  not  only  the  coat  but  the 
health  of  his  subjects  were  they  Maltese  or  Yorkshire 
terriers. 

Obviously  no  one  line  of  procedure  can  be  established 
which  will  extend  to  all  cases,  nor  is  there  much  in  this 
fact  to  be  deplored,  for  with  a  few  simple  general  rules  in 
sight,  a  knowledge  of  the  methods  to  be  employed  with 
the  common  varieties,  and  a  fair  amount  of  common  sense, 
one  need  never  run  into  a  very  dense  fog. 

The  general  rules  are  as  follows  : 

Never  wash  a  dog  within  two  or  three  hours  after  eat- 
ing heartily.  The  best  time  is  about  an  hour  before  a 
feeding,  for  then  if  he  is  depressed  by  the  bath  his  food 
will  do  much  to  bring  on  reaction  and  restore  him. 

Use  lukewarm  water  always,  for  with  cold  water  it  is 
scarcely  possible  to  effect  cleanliness. 

Let  the  washing  be  done  as  speedily  as  possible,  and  in 
a  temperature  of  not  less  than  70°  Fahr.  And  the  opera- 
tion with  very  delicate  toys  will  be  less  hazardous  if  the 
degree  of  heat  is  higher  than  this. 


120  KENNEL  SECRETS. 

Lest  the  dog  take  cold  after  a  bath  dry  him  always,  put 
him  beyond  draughts  in  summer  if  he  is  to  be  confined, 
and  keep  him  several  hours  in  a  warm  room  or  exercise 
him  briskly  if  the  weather  is  cold. 

In  case  he  shivers  or  seems  languid  give  him  a  gener- 
ous quantity  of  warm  milk. 

The  soap  used  should  be  invariably  of  good  quality,  not- 
withstanding the  popular  notion  that  any  kind  is  good 
enough  for  a  dog.  Consequently  the  common  yellow  bar 
of  the  kitchen  and  cheap  soaps  intended  for  toilet  pur- 
poses are  forbidden,  as  they  contain  an  excess  of  alkali, 
which  not  only  has  a  tendency  to  irritate  the  skin  but 
render  the  hair  dry  and  brittle.  And  all  low-cost  and 
highly  scented  soaps  should  be  regarded  with  suspi- 
cion, because  without  exception  they  are  composed  of 
the  cheapest  of  ingredients,  and  usually  of  rancid  fats, 
which  the  perfume  is  expected  to  disguise. 

Old  Castile  soap  is  very  good,  yet  much  that  bears  its 
name  is  spurious.  The  glycerine  soaps  are  also  generally 
reliable,  and  the  same  can  be  said  of  about  all  transpar- 
ent soaps,  for  they  are  not  easily  manufactured  of  base 
ingredients.  But  a  formula  for  making  a  far  better  soap 
for  kennel  use  than  any  of  these  will  be  found  in  the  part 
devoted  to  "  Exhibiting  Dogs." 

When  washing  for  cleanliness  the  use  of  soap  will  gen- 
erally be  demanded,  although  where  there  is  only  one  dog 
and  he  is  a  small  one  raw  eggs  could  be  employed  instead, 
and  these  would  soften  the  skin  and  leave  the  hair  soft, 
smooth  and  glossy.  But  manifestly  to  wash  a  kennel  of 
fairly  large  dogs  with  them  would  be  an  expensive  matter, 
and,  really,  excepting  in  rare  cases  they  have  no  superior- 
ity over  the  soap  just  alluded  to. 

However,  he  who  cares  to  try  eggs  should  break  up  and 
lightly  beat  four  in  a  pint   of  warm  water,  and  shampoo 


WASHING  AND   GROOMING.  121 

with  the  mixture.  But  he  must  be  sure  to  rinse  long  and 
well  afterward,  for  eggs  on  drying  harden  down  like 
mucilage. 

While  soap  can  be  applied  to  thQ  coats  of  most  dogs 
there  are  at  least  two  exceptions,  namely,  the  Maltese 
and  Yorkshire  terriers,  and  for  the  former  raw  eggs  are 
the  best,  while  to  the  latter  soapsuds  merely  —  not  the 
soap  itself  —  should  be  applied  according  to  the  directions 
which  will  also  appear  in  "Exhibiting  Dogs." 

A  tub  is  not  absolutely  necessary  when  bathing  out  of 
doors,  but  it  greatly  favors  convenience,  and  for  large 
dogs  a  half  hogshead  with  a  hole  in  the  bottom,  stopped 
by  a  plug,  does  nicely,  while  a  kitchen  washing-tub  or 
foot-pan  answers  every  purpose  with  small  breeds. 

When  washing  for  cleanliness  merely,  commencing 
back  of  the  ears  —  not  with  the  head,  as  many  advise,  for 
that  should  be  left  until  the  last  —  the  entire  coat  can  be 
thoroughly  soaped  before  any  rinsing  is  done,  but  where 
carbolic  or  other  soaps  containing  poisonous  ingredients 
are  to  be  used,  the  dog  is  of  a  large  size  and  but  one 
person  is  to  be  engaged  in  the  operation,  it  is  much  safer 
to  treat  only  one  half  the  body  at  a  time  and  rinse  well 
before  going  further. 

An  old  tin  dipper  handy  to  the  tub  will  frequently  be 
of  service  in  drenching  the  coat  while  soaping  and  in  the 
first  rinsing.  The  latter  over,  the  water  should  be  drawn 
off  or  thrown  out,  and  the  final  rinsing  can  be  done  quite 
as  conveniently  with  a  garden  sprinkling-pot  as  by  any 
other  means. 

During  all  these  operations  the  soap  and  water  must  not 
be  allowed  to  get  into  the  ears,  for  were  it  to  do  so  it 
would  cause  discomfort  and  not  impossibly  troublesome 
inflammation.  But  a  reasonable  amount  of  care  exhibited 
with  large  dogs  this  accident  is  not  likely  to  occur,  yet 


122  KENNEL  SECRETS. 

with  small  dogs  it  is  so  easy  it  is  always  best  to  stop  the 
ears  with  cotton. 

Except  in  very  warm  weather  the  temperature  of  the 
water  for  the  last  rinsing  should  as  a  rule  be  only  a  little 
lower  than  that  used  in  washing,  yet  much  depends  upon 
individual  peculiarities  and  customs,  and  although  occa- 
sionally is  encountered  a  very  hardy  and  robust  dog  that 
takes  kindly  to  cold  water,  to  most  of  his  race,  and  espe- 
cially the  members  of  it  that  have  the  freedom  of  their 
masters'  homes  or  are  quartered  in  comfortable  kennels, 
it  is  too  much  of  a  hardship.  Furthermore,  when  not  well 
borne  it  is  singularly  liable  to  cause  intestinal  and  other 
functional  disturbances  ;  and  in  all  instances  it  is  really 
prejudicial  to  fine  hair. 

Thorough  rinsing  having  been  administered,  a  large 
sponge  should  be  freely  used  and  followed  by  a  long  and 
vigorous  rubbing  with  clean  towels.  Then  if  the  weather 
is  very  mild  the  dog  can  be  returned  to  his  kennel  —  which 
manifestly  should  first  be  supplied  with  clean  fresh  bed- 
ding —  or,  better  still,  be  taken  out  on  chain  and  walked  a 
mile  or  more. 

But  in  warm  weather  only  would  it  be  safe  to  return 
dogs  to  their  kennels  at  once  after  bathing;  and  during 
cold  weather  unless  they  can  be  permitted  to  remain  in 
comfortably  heated  rooms  for  several  hours  they  must  be 
rubbed  perfectly  dry,  no  matter  how  long  a  time  is  re- 
quired in  the  operation.  And  although  various  measures 
for  drying  have  been  advised,  as  the  use  of  "shorts"  and 
fine  sawdust,  —  the  same  being  rubbed  through  the  hair 
and  then  brushed  out,  —  in  no  way  can  it  be  more  com- 
pletely and  speedily  effected  than  by  the  means  of  towels, 
provided  enough  of  them  are  used. 

After  being  thoroughly  dried  the  dogs  should  be  taken 
out  and  encouraged  to  exercise  vigorously  for  at  least  half 


WASHING   AND   GROOMING.  1 23 

an  hour  to  quicken    circulation   and    thereby  prevent  a 
chill. 

But  let  no  one  try  to  dry  a  Yorkshire  by  rubbing  with 
towels  or  like  means,  for  the  harm  would  be  well-nigh 
irreparable.  And  in  this  instance  the  drying  must  all  be 
done  with  brushes  ;  each  one  in  turn  being  put  before  the 
fire  as  soon  as  it  has  become  dampened,  and  used  always 
from  the  centre  —  "  the  parting  "  —  downward  on  either 
side. 

When  it  has  been  necessary  to  wash  a  dog  frequently 
and  in  consequence  his  hair  has  become  unnaturally  dry, 
a  mixture  of  glycerine  and  water,  one  part  to  four,  or 
cocoa-butter  will  be  advisable. 

Or  if  the  skin  is  very  dry  and  inelastic  and  the  hair 
staring  and  brittle,  it  may  be  well  to  drench  the  coat  with 
cod-liver  oil  and  allow  it  to  remain  on  for  several  days, 
the  dog,  meanwhile,  being  swathed  with  cotton  cloth  or 
covered  by  a  thin  blanket,  and  kept  in  a  warm  place 
if  the  season  is  winter. 

But  unless  fats  or  oils  are  urgently  demanded,  as  in  a 
case  like  this,  they  should  be  used  sparingly  and  merely 
on  coats  which  are  very  long  and  might  otherwise  be 
matted  and  snarled. 

Discarding  lard  and  animal  fats,  for  the  reason  that  they 
quickly  become  rancid,  putrefy,  and  are  liable  to  cause 
irritation  of  the  skin,  the  vegetable  oils  should  be  chosen 
as  a  rule,  although  sometimes,  as  in  "dressing"  the  coat 
of  a  German  poodle,  it  will  be  allowable  to  use  a  little  min- 
eral oil  in  a  mixture  with  one  or  more  vegetable  oils. 
And  in  these  instances  kerosene,  olive  and  castor  oils,  in 
equal  parts,  make  a  serviceable  mixture. 

But  with  dogs  generally  olive  or  cotton-seed  oil  of  pur- 
est and  best  quality  only  should  be  used,  and  barely  suf- 
ficient to  lubricate  the  outer  hairs  —  a  little  of  the  oil 


124  KENNEL  SECRETS. 

being  poured  into  one  hand,  then  the  hands  rubbed  to- 
s:ether  and  the  coat  rubbed  with  them  in  the  direction  of 
the  hair. 

That  there  may  be  no  mistake  in  this  matter  it  is  again 
urged  that  except  in  cases  where  drenching  with  cod-liver 
oil  is  indicated,  or  a  dressing  is  required,  as  in  corded 
coats,  the  quantity  of  oil  used  should  be  very  small  indeed, 
for  any  excess  must  clog  the  pores  of  the  skin  and  prevent 
the  free  access  of  air  to  the  hair  roots. 

Baths  without  soap  are  less  objectionable  than  those  in 
which  it  is  used,  and  an  occasional  dip  or  swim  cannot  do 
a  sound  dog  any  harm,  provided  the  water  is  not  very  cold 
nor  entered  shortly  after  eating  a  hearty  meal.  Yet  mod- 
eration in  these  indulgences  should  be  the  rule,  for  water 
alone  too  often  applied  impairs  the  integrity  of  fine  hair. 
And  it  follows  that  the  custom  indulged  by  some  breeders 
of  dipping  their  dogs  in  tanks  every  morning  during  hot 
weather  is  a  questionable  one  except  with  certain  breeds 
of  dogs  which  have  a  special  fondness  for  water. 

Since  no  more  favorable  opportunity  is  likely  to  present 
itself  some  of  the  influences  from  within  which  bear  upon 
the  health  of  the  hair  may  properly  be  considered  here. 

As  so  few  owners  appear  to  recognize  it,  it  is  necessary 
to  emphasize  the  fact  that  the  quality  and  often  the  quan- 
tity of  hair  varies  with  the  general  health,  tempera- 
ment and  many  accidental  circumstances  of  the  dog.  In 
serious  attacks  of  sickness  persisting  for  several  weeks  it 
becomes  dry  and  rough,  with  a  tendency  to  break  easily 
or  fall  out  in  consequence  of  being  loosened  at  its 
roots.  But  while  disease  acts  rapidly  upon  the  hair  and 
impairs  its  integrity,  some  functional  disturbances  merely, 
although  slower  in  their  effects  in  this  direction,  are  yet 
quite  as  potent  and  baneful,  and  especially  active  are  dis- 
orders of  circulation  and  of  the  digestive  and  nervous 
systems. 


WASHING  AND  GROOMING.  12$ 

The  blood  can  never  circulate  as  freely  as  it  ought  in  a 
dog  that  is  denied  sufficient  exercise,  nor  can  the  organs 
concerned  in  circulation  long  retain  their  strength  and 
vigor  under  such  denial.  Manifestly,  also,  when  they 
are  unable  to  do  the  entire  duty  assigned  them  their  fail- 
ure will  be  registered  in  every  part  of  the  animal  econ- 
omy. The  effects  of  faults  in  the  digestive  system  are 
equally  as  wide-spread,  and  nutrition  everywhere  must 
suffer  in  degree  corresponding  largely  to  their  intensity. 
And  even  farther  reaching  and  more  pronounced  are  the 
ill  effects  of  disturbances  of  the  nervous  system  —  a  fact 
that  need  not  be  urged,  for  all  must  have  had  at  some  time 
in  their  lives  at  least  a  disposition  to  fret  and  worry, 
which  alone  is  sufficient  to  impair  every  important  func- 
tion and  make  the  victim  spiritless,  weak  and  ailing. 

Appreciating  that  the  hair,  like  the  fingers  and  toes,  is 
literally  a  part  of  the  living  structure,  and  that  it  is  vital- 
ized and  nourished  by  the  same  common  supplies,  it  is 
easy  to  believe  that  it  shares  in  the  hurtful  influence  de- 
scribed, and  that  if  a  dog  is  kept  chained  or  confined  to 
contracted  quarters,  is  improperly  fed,  discontented  and 
unhappy,  or  from  other  causes  the  tone  of  his  general 
health  is  lowered,  his  hair  must  inevitably  suffer  with  all 
other  portions  of  his  make-up. 

When  the  hair  parts  with  its  natural  gloss  and  smooth- 
ness there  is  some  cause  for  it,  which  must  be  found  and 
removed  before  restoration  will  be  possible.  And  beyond 
the  faults  in  management  already  alluded  to  there  is  at 
least  one  other  equally  as  common,  and  which  has  very 
nearly  as  potent  an  indirect  influence  on  the  growth  and 
health  of  the  hair,  namely,  that  of  denying  dogs  sufficient 
fresh,  wholesome  drinking  water.  In  evidence  of  the  in- 
jury induced  thereby  the  writer  records  an  instance  that 
occurred  some  years  since  in  his  kennels.     On  this  oc- 


126  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

casion  he  noted  that  in  all  his  dogs,  some  forty  in  num- 
ber, there  was  quite  a  sudden  and  great  falling  off  in  the 
appearance  of  the  coat,  the  skin  losing  its  elasticity  and 
with  the  hair  becoming  dry  and  rough.  During  the  in- 
vestigations that  followed  every  possible  cause  was  elim- 
inated except  the  drinking  water,  and  after  the  help  had 
been  under  surveillance  for  several  days  this  was  proved 
to  be  at  fault.  The  kennels  being  at  once  piped  and 
supplied  with  running  water  the  inmates  were  soon  back 
to  their  old  form. 

The  moral  of  all  this  is,  that  while  cleanliness,  groom- 
ing, etc.,  will  keep  in  good  condition  the  hair  of  a  sound 
dog  happily  situated,  except  in  the  presence  of  good  gen- 
eral health  the  hair  can  never  be  at  its  best,  no  matter 
how  cleverly  and  faithfully  it  is  treated. 

A  word  as  to  the  so-called  hair  restorers.  Including 
the  domestic  with  all  other  agents  reputed  to  have  stimu- 
lant action  upon  the  hair  the  number  would  be  well-nigh 
countless,  yet  as  a  matter  of  fact  there  are  but  few  that 
have  any  restorative  action  whatsoever.  Many  of  them,  it 
is  true,  have  seemed  to  prove  effectual  in  certain  cases,  but 
doubtless  in  the  infinite  majority  of  them  the  hair  would 
have  grown  quite  as  quickly  without  any  application. 

The  hair  is  planted  in  the  skin,  but  unlike  vegetable 
growths  the  root  is  not  its  actual  source  and  origin.  A 
shrub  pulled  up  by  its  roots  cannot  be  reproduced  on  the 
same  spot,  and  unless  it  is  replanted  there  that  spot  will 
know  it  no  more.  Not  so  with  the  hair  however,  which 
although  it  has  been  plucked  by  the  root  will  yet  repro- 
duce itself,  because  its  true  source  is  not  in  its  bulb  or  so- 
called  root  but  in  the  outer  or  dermic  layer  of  the  follicle 
containing  the  root  and  in  a  small  vascular  papilla  contin- 
uous with  this  layer,  known  as  the  matrix.  The  cells 
formed  by  this  matrix  are  always  being  pushed  up  into 


WASHING  AND   GROOMING.  12/ 

the  follicle  and  massed  together  so  as  to  constitute  the 
tissue  of  which  the  hair  is  spun.  And  obviously  as  long 
as  the  follicle  and  matrix  remain  normal  the  hair  will  be 
reproduced  if  it  has  fallen  out,  even  root  and  all,  but  let 
them  become  disorganized  so  that  they  are  no  longer  able 
to  work,  and  "  nothing  under  the  sun  "  can  restore  hair 
in  that  spot. 

If  in  consequence  of  ill  health  the  hair  becomes  dry  and 
rough  with  a  tendency  to  break  off  or  fall  out,  beyond  re- 
moving the  cause  all  that  is  necessary  is  to  keep  it  and 
the  skin  as  clean  as  possible,  softened  occasionally  with 
a  little  cocoa-butter  or  glycerine  and  water,  and  apply 
friction  with  the  fingers  and  brush ;  which  means  render 
the  hair  less  brittle  and  conduce  greatly  to  the  restoration 
of  vigor  and  tone  in  the  hair-bulbs. 

Bald  spots  do  not  often  appear  on  dogs  except  in  conse- 
quence of  parasitic  diseases,  which  must,  of  course,  be 
cured  before  the  hair  can  grow  again.  Perhaps  the  most 
popular  agent  resorted  to  by  fanciers  to  restore  hair  on 
such  spots  —  the  skin  being  unbroken  —  is  petroleum, 
and  it  is  doubtful  if  many  of  them  know  that  its  good 
effect  is  attributable,  not  to  its  restorative  powers  but  to 
its  destructive  action  on  the  parasites  that  induce  the  bald- 
ness. Considering  which  action,  its  use,  or  still  better 
the  use  of  its  refined  product  benzine  —  because  it  pene- 
trates deeper  —  is  to  be  commended  on  all  bald  spots  of 
recent  occurrence. 

If  the  hair  has  long  been  off  and  benzine  has  been  used 
faithfully  without  appreciable  effect  it  will  be  advisable  to 
resort  to  the  tincture  of  cantharides  or  the  sulphate  of 
quinine,  about  the  only  serviceable  medicinal  agents  that 
have  any  decided  action  as  hair  stimulants.  The  former 
being  much  the  more  powerful  and  a  poison  should  be 
chosen  only  when  the  spot  is  so  located  that  the  dog  can- 


128 


KENNEL   SECRETS. 


not  reach  it  with  his  tongue.  And  it  is  best  applied  in 
the  form  of  an  ointment,  which  can  be  made  up  as  fol- 
lows :  Balsam  of  tolu  and  tincture  of  cantharides,  of  each 
two  drachms  ;  petrolatum,  one  ounce.  These  ingredients 
should  be  thoroughly  mixed  and  the  ointment  applied 
freely,  twice  daily. 

When  quinine  is  used  it  should  be  in  a  solution  com- 
posed as  follows  :  Sulphate  of  quinine,  one  drachm  ;  dilute 
sulphuric  acid,  fifteen  minims  ;  alcohol  and  glycerine,  of 
each  one  ounce  ;  water,  four  ounces.  This,  also,  should 
be  applied  twice  daily. 

It  is  scarcely  necessary  to  add  that  neither  the  petro- 
leum, benzine,  cantharidal  ointment  nor  quinine  solution 
should  be  used  where  the  skin  is  broken. 

There  now  remain  to  be  considered  two  agents  which 
should  invariably  be  employed  lavishly  in  all  cases  where 
the  hair  is  not  at  its  best,  and  these  are  pure  air  and  sun- 
light —  agents  which  stand  above  all  others  on  the  list  of 
hair  stimulants  and  nourishers. 


CHAPTER   X. 


TROUBLESOME    INSECTS. 


Although  the  skin  and  jacket  of  the  dog  would  seem 
to  afford  conditions  highly  favorable  for  various  kinds  of 
free  animal  parasites  there  is  really  only  one  which  has  a 
very  decided  preference  for  him,  and  that  is  the  Piilex 
cants  or  flea  of  the  dog.  A  number  of  others  are  occa- 
sional visitors,  yet  as  a  rule  they  are  easily  destroyed  or 
affronted  and  persuaded  to  leave.  But  this  pest  is  an 
eminent  exception,  and  of  all  questions  that  engage  the 
minds  of  owners,  how  to  overcome  him  is  the  most  dis- 
turbing, for  so  great  are  his  pertinacity,  vitality  and  reac- 
tive powers,  many  poisons  that  are  speedily  fatal  to  other 
insects  are  to  him  merely  sleep-producers  that  lay  him  up 
for  an  hour  or  two,  when  he  is  as  lively  and  vigorous  as 
ever  ;  while  unfortunately  most  of  the  surely  destructive 
agents,  which  throttle  him  as  it  were  —  oily  and  viscid 
liquids  —  are  so  highly  objectionable  that  but  few  care  to 
resort  to  them. 

It  seems  to  be  generally  accepted  that  the  Pulex  irritans, 
the  human  flea,  and  the  Pulex  canis,  the  dog  flea,  are  one 
and  the  same.     Such   is  not   the  case  however,  for  they 

129 


I30  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

have  very  decided  distinctive  features,  and  while  the  for- 
mer may  infest  the  dog  the  latter  never  attaches  himself 
permanently  to  man,  although  he  may  annoy  him  with 
occasional  visits. 

There  is  yet  another  prevalent  notion  about  fleas, 
namely,  that  all  in  sandy  districts  are  the  so-called  Piilex 
penetrans  or  sand-flea.  As  a  matter  of  fact  the  true  sand- 
flea  is  peculiar  to  hot  countries,  and  although  it  has  been 
found  in  some  parts  of  Africa  it  is  common  only  in  South 
America,  where  it  is  variously  known  as  the  chigger, 
chigoe,  jigger,  etc.  Another  sand-flea,  of  enormous  size, 
is  met  with  on  the  shores  of  the  Mediterranean,  but, 
as  said,  none  of  these  species  are  ever  found  in  northern 
latitudes  except  embedded  in  persons  from  the  infested 
districts. 

The  human  flea  and  the  dog  flea,  however,  seek  sand 
in  which  to  lay  their  eggs  and  hatch  out  their  young,  and 
during  the  season  in  which  this  is  going  on  it  is  almost 
impossible  to  keep  them  out  of  buildings  that  are  located 
near  sand-hills  or  on  sand  only  recently  deposited.  But 
they  naturally  prefer  that  which  is  undisturbed,  and  al- 
though they  may  swarm  in  a  load  fresh  from  the  hills,  if 
spread  out  over  a  driveway  or  dog-yard  and  well  rolled 
down  it  no  longer  as  nicely  serves  their  purpose,  and  they 
soon  seek  more  favorable  situations. 

These  troublesome  insects,  rightly  called  flies  without 
wings,  suck  blood  like  leeches,  and  not  content  to  satisfy 
their  appetites  they  treat  their  hosts  to  injections  of  a 
highly  irritating  fluid  which  soon  assures  them  that  they 
have  been  victimized.  Another  deplorable  peculiarity  of  . 
theirs  is  that  they  multiply  with  distressing  rapidity,  the 
female  laying  about  twenty  eggs  in  as  many  days,  from 
which  the  larvae  emerge  in  the  course  of  a  week  and  are 
then  speedily  matured  ;  but  until  full-grown  the  mother 


TROUBLESOME  INSECTS.  13 1 

supplies  them  with  nourishment  —  sucking  blood  enough 
for  herself  and  them. 

Fortunately  for  mankind,  human  fleas  are  not  very 
abundant  except  on  the  seashore  during  the  hottest  part 
of  the  summer,  where  their  presence  is  largely  due  to  the 
bathers,  who  of  course  are  their  easiest  victims,  while  at 
inland  places  the  most  of  the  bites  can  safely  be  laid  at 
the  doors  of  dog  fleas.  And  wherever  there  is  a  dog  this 
species  is  likely  to  have  representatives,  and  a  goodly  num- 
ber always  during  the  summer  season. 

But  there  are  measures  which  will  do  much  in  the  way 
of  prevention,  and  one  is  to  bed  down  the  dogs  with  pine 
shavings  and  place  about  in  the  same  a  goodly  number 
of  carbolic  "disinfecting  balls,"  which  so  many  house- 
keepers employ  to  keep  moths  out  of  clothing.  Another 
quite  potent  measure  is  the  use  of  the  oils  of  turpentine 
and  kerosene,  the  same  being  freely  sprinkled  over  the 
bedding  and  woodwork  of  the  kennel. 

Still  another  means  which  is  sometimes  resorted  to  by 
breeders  is  the  free  use  of  air-slacked  lime  in  the  kennel 
yard,  it  being  scattered  about  upon  the  ground  during  or 
after  a  rain-fall.  And  this  is  certainly  a  commendable 
custom,  for  the  lime  is  destructive  to  the  ova  or  eggs  of 
insects  and  parasites  ;  yet  it  will  not  retain  this  effect  in 
considerable  degree  if  too  long  exposed  to  the  air  before  it 
is  used. 

But  the  most  potent  preventive  measure  is  cleanliness. 
In  fact  owners  and  caretakers  are  responsible  for  fleas, 
and  if  a  kennel  is  kept  clean,  whitewashed  often,  and  the 
dogs  are  well  groomed  once  a  day  and  washed  occasionally 
with  the  soft  soap  recommended  in  part  devoted  to  "  Ex- 
hibiting Dogs  "  these  troublesome  insects  will  but  rarely 
intrude,  and  certainly  not  remain  long  when  they  do  so. 

Of    the  various   agents  that    have   been  recommended 


132  KENNEL  SECRETS. 

for  the  destruction  of  fleas  the  Persian  and  Dalmatian 
insect  powders  appear  to  be  the  most  popular.  The  first 
named,  called  also  the  Caucasian,  consists  of  the  flowers 
of  Pyretliriim  carneiim  and  roseum  —  natives  of  the  Cau- 
casian mountains  —  while  the  other  is  a  product  of  the 
Pyrethrmn  cineraricefoliiim ;  and  of  the  two,  this  is  the 
more  powerful. 

These  powders  are  often  destructive,  yet  they  are  by 
no  means  positively  so  in  all  instances,  and  in  the  excep- 
tions they  simply  have  a  narcotic  effect  which  lasts  for  a 
few  hours  only,  when  apparently  complete  recovery  takes 
place.  Nor  can  they  be  relied  upon  to  keep  dogs  free 
from  the  pests,  for  they  are  soon  shaken  off  with  all  their 
virtues,  consequently  they  must  be  used  daily  and  perhaps 
twice  a  day  to  do  any  lasting  good. 

A  bellows  is  the  best  means  of  application,  or  in  its  ab- 
sence a  tin  box  with  a  perforated  cover  can  be  used.  And 
in  every  instance  the  powder  should  be  well  worked  into 
the  hair  and  down  to  the  skin,  the  subject  under  treat- 
ment meanwhile  standing  or  lying  on  a  paper,  which, 
with  what  falls  upon  it,  should  be  burned  that  all  the  fleas 
may  with  certainty  be  destroyed. 

But  beyond  being  merely  palliative  these  powders  are 
objected  to  by  many  persons  because  of  the  irritation  they 
excite  in  the  air-passages  of  the  users  ;  and  as  a  matter 
of  fact  without  being  really  poisonous  to  man  they  are 
yet  capable  of  causing  him  discomfort  and  producing 
symptoms  closely  resembling  those  induced  by  a  cold  in 
the  head,  especially  in  persons  inclined  to  chronic  nasal 
catarrh.  Consequently,  as  a  frequent  application  they 
can  scarcely  be  advised,  at  least  in  a  dry  form.  But  this 
objection  is  avoided  when  they  are  employed  with  alcohol 
and  water  ;  moreover,  the  tinctures  made  from  them  are 
more  powerful  and  lasting  in  their  effects  than  the  pow- 
ders themselves. 


TROUBLESOME  INSECTS.  133 

It  has  been  found  that  these  powders  owe  their  insect- 
destroying  virtue  to  an  acrid  resin,  deprived  of  which, 
they  are  practically  worthless.  This  resin  can  be  ex- 
tracted by  alcohol,  and  the  method  to  be  employed  also 
the  various  formalities  to  be  observed  in  converting  the 
tincture  into  a  destroyer  are  as  follows  : 

Obtain  from  a  druggist  one-half  pound  of  Dalmatian 
insect  powder  and  one  and  one-half  ounces  of  the  oil  of 
eucalyptus.  Pour  them  into  a  large  bottle,  add  one  quart 
of  alcohol,  cork  tightly  to  prevent  evaporation,  and  shake 
frequently  during  the  next  two  or  three  days.  Then  ob- 
tain a  funnel  large  enough  to  hold  the  contents  of  the 
bottle,  also  a  three-gallon  demijohn.  Lightly  pack  the 
bottom  of  the  funnel  and  its  neck  with  absorbent  cotton 
and  insert  it  in  the  mouth  of  the  jug.  Shake  the  bottle 
and  pour  its  entire  contents  into  the  funnel.  The  fluid 
portion,  which  is  the  tincture  of  the  insect  powder,  will 
slowly  filter  through  the  cotton,  and  as  it  does  so  pour 
more  water  into  the  funnel  until  sufiftcient  has  been  used 
to  fill  the  demijohn.  And  each  time  water  is  added  the 
muddy  mass  at  the  bottom  of  the  funnel  should  be  stirred, 
otherwise  the  filter  will  be  choked.  What  remains  in 
the  funnel  should  finally  be  thrown  away. 

The  demijohn — which  must  be  well  stopped  —  now 
holds  all  the  active  and  poisonous  principles  of  the  insect 
powder,  also  another  powerful  insecticide  as  well  as  an- 
tiseptic, the  oil  of  eucalyptus.  Without  the  latter  the 
diluted  tincture  would  have  been  destructive  to  nearly  all 
small  insects,  but  one  can  never  be  too  sure  when  dealing 
with  fleas,  therefore  the  stronger  the  destroyer  the  better. 
And  besides  adding  greatly  to  its  power  the  oil  has  given 
it  an  odor  that  is  quite  agreeable  to  most  people,  thereby 
rendering  it  of  special  value  for  treatment  of  house  pets. 
But  possibly  the  most  fastidious  may  object  to  this  odor. 


134  KENNEL  SECRETS. 

in  which  event  they  have  but  to  choose  some  favorite  per- 
fume oil,  as  rosemary,  verbena,  or  the  like,  and  after 
properly  diluting  it  with  alcohol  add  it  to  the  mixture, 
which  should  be  at  once  well  shaken. 

This  flea  destroyer  has  the  color  of  whiskey  and  stains 
very  light  coats  —  although  the  discoloration  washes  off 
readily  after  the  hair  has  dried  —  consequently  it  would 
scarcely  be  advisable  to  apply  it  to  a  white  dog  that  one 
desired  to  appear  at  his  best. 

In  using  it  pour  a  sufficient  quantity  into  a  hand  basin 
and  apply  with  a  sponge  or  brush  until  all  the  hair  down 
to  the  skin  has  been  well  moistened,  and  then  allow  it  to 
dry  on.  As  its  effects  are  not  nearly  so  fleeting  as  those 
of  the  insect  powder  its  use  is  seldom  demanded  oftener 
than  twice  a  week  even  in  the  most  troublesome  times, 
but  it  can  safely  be  resorted  to  daily  if  there  is  occasion 
for  it.  And  if  this  agent  is  sprinkled  over  the  bedding  of 
dogs  and  about  their  kennels,  fewer  direct  applications  to 
them  will  be  required. 

Some  breeders  make  an  infusion  of  insect  powder  by 
steeping  a  pound  of  it  in  a  pailful  of  boiling  water,  and 
this  is  then  added  to  ten  or  twelve  gallons  of  water  and 
in  the  mixture  the  dogs  are  given  a  bath.  But  boiling 
water  does  not  extract  the  virtues  of  the  powder  nearly  so 
completely  as  alcohol,  therefore  in  an  infusion  there  is  a 
loss  ;  and  when  so  diluted  it  is  extremely  doubtful  if  it  has 
other  than  a  stupefying  effect  merely,  from  which  the  fleas 
recover  in  a  very  short  time. 

The  cost  of  the  three  gallons  of  the  diluted  tincture  is 
less  than  one  dollar,  but  notwithstanding  this  fact  it  will 
doubtless  be  held  too  expensive  by  many  who  keep  a  large 
number  of  dogs,  consequently  it  is  advisable  to  consider 
herein  another  and  cheaper  insecticide. 

Crude  carbolic  acid  suggests   itself,  for  it  costs  only 


TROUBLESOME   INSECTS.  135 

thirty-five  cents  per  pint,  while  half  this  quantity  when 
added  to  water  will  make  a  washing-tub  full  of  safe  and 
efficient  flea-destroyer,  and  one  that  will  keep  indefinitely 
without  losing  its  strength.  But  this  must  not  be  con- 
founded with  the  carbolic  acid  in  common  use,  of  which 
there  are  several  kinds.  First  comes  the  pure  in  the  form 
of  white  crystals,  —  so  susceptible  to  moisture  that  they 
soon  fuse  into  a  hard  mass  —  then  the  carbolic  acid 
usually  found  in  drug  shops,  which  is  at  least  one  remove 
from  the  first  in  the  matter  of  purity,  although  the  two 
outwardly  so  closely  resemble  one  another  the  differences 
are  scarcely  appreciable.  The  next  remove  is  a  nearly 
colorless  liquid  which  is  generally  employed  where  large 
quantities  are  needed  to  disinfect  cesspools,  sewers,  etc. 
After  this  appears  the  crude  acid,  the  kind  herein  recom- 
mended, a  sirupy  fluid  of  deep  brownish  color  —  nearly 
black  —  and  really  only  about  one-half  carbolic  acid,  the 
most  of  the  remaining  ingredients  being  worthless  sub- 
stances. 

When  diluting  crude  carbolic  acid  it  is  advisable  to  use 
an  alkali,  and  the  common  soap  of  the  kitchen  will  an- 
swer every  purpose.  One  pound  of  this  soap  having  first 
been  dissolved  in  about  a  gallon  of  hot  water,  half  a  pint 
of  carbolic  acid  should  be  added  and  thoroughly  mixed 
by  vigorous  stirring.  Then  the  whole  should  be  poured 
into  a  tub  or  barrel  holding  about  fifteen  gallons  of 
water. 

The  destroyer  is  now  ready  for  use,  and  can  be  applied 
with  a  sponge,  or  dogs  can  be  dipped  in  it  —  in  which 
case  care  must  be  taken  to  prevent  the  solution  from  get- 
ting into  the  mouth,  nostrils  or  eyes. 

The  duration  of  the  bath  should  not  be  over  half  a  min- 
ute, and  after  being  permitted  to  run  about  for  five  min- 
utes the  dogs  should  be  dipped  in  a  tubful  of  clean  water. 


136  KENNEL  SECRETS. 

or  rinsed  off  by  means  of  a  garden  sprinkler,  and  then 
allowed  to  dry  themselves  in  their  own  way. 

Strong,  hardy  dogs  would  scarcely  need  rinsing,  but 
still  it  is  a  wise  procedure,  for  some  forms  of  the  crude 
preparations  contain  more  carbolic  acid  than  others  and 
poisonous  absorption  might  possibly  take  place  ;  moreover, 
the  solution  if  often  applied  and  allowed  to  dry  on  would 
likely  make  the  hair  dry  and  brash. 

This  crude  carbolic  solution  is  not  only  destructive  to 
fleas  and  other  troublesome  insects  but  both  preventive 
.and  curative  of  the  most  common  form  of  mange  and 
imany  other  parasitic  diseases,  hence  its  use  about  twice 
a  week  in  summer  is  likely  to  prove  highly  beneficial  in  a 
variety  of  ways.  But  for  obvious  reasons  it  is  available 
only  in  warm  weather  or  where  kennels  are  comfortably 
heated  in  winter.  And  since  very  nearly  all  such  agents 
are  more  or  less  prejudicial  to  the  coat  it  should  be  used 
sparingly  if  at  all  on  dogs  being  made  ready  for  shows. 

What  is  generally  accepted  as  the  pure  carbolic  acid  is 
sometimes  used  in  a  stronger  preparation  composed  as 
follows  : 

Carbolic  acid,  one-half  an  ounce  ;  glycerine,  one-half  an 
ounce  ;  laudanum,  one  ounce  ;  bicarbonate  of  potassa,  one 
drachm  ;  water,  one  and  one-half  pints.  In  using,  pour 
a  little  into  a  hand  basin,  and  with  a  small  sponge  rub  it 
through  the  coat  to  the  skin. 

The  writer  has  never  tried  this  preparation,  but  Mr.  J. 
Otis  Fellows,  one  of  the  most  experienced  breeders  within 
his  acquaintance,  cordially  recommends  it  for  use  espe- 
cially on  house  pets,  because  of  its  cleanly  nature  as  well 
as  efficiency. 

Quassia  is  another  potent  flea  destroyer,  which  notwith- 
standing that  it  possesses  the  peculiarity  of  being  poison- 
ous to  many  of  the  lower  animals,  including  dogs,  is  never 


TROUBLESOME  INSECTS.  1 37 

likely  to  do  harm  unless  used  much  too  freely.  The  infusion, 
the  preparation  for  the  purpose,  is  made  as  follows :  Put 
four  ounces  of  the  chips  into  a  demijohn  containing  a  gallon 
of  hot  water ;  stop  the  same  with  a  cork  —  only  gently  in- 
serted—  and  place  it  on  the  back  of  the  stove  where  it 
will  keep  warm.  In  the  course  of  two  or  three  hours  the 
virtues  of  the  chips  will  all  have  been  extracted,  when 
sufficient  of  the  liquor  should  be  poured  into  a  tub,  in 
which,  after  the  infusion  has  cooled,  the  infested  dog 
should  be  stood  and  thoroughly  drenched. 

There  are  many  kinds  of  soap  on  the  market  for  which 
the  claim  is  made  that  they  are  destroyers  of  fleas.  The 
writer  has  given  a  very  large  number  of  them  fair  trials 
yet  found  but  few  which  acted  as  reputed  ;  and  the  strong- 
est form  of  carbolic  soap  was  the  most  notable  exception. 

Some  carbolic  soaps  are  intended  for  toilet  purposes 
merely  and  contain  such  small  quantities  of  the  essential 
agent  that  they  are  but  little  if  any  better  than  common 
unmedicated  soaps,  but  the  strongest  kind  is  destructive 
to  fleas  as  well  as  of  real  value  in  the  treatment  of  par- 
asitic affections.  And  although  there  is  a  prejudice 
against  it  because  of  its  great  strength  it  is  perfectly 
safe  for  use  on  mature  dogs,  provided  it  is  applied  quickly 
and  a  free  rinsing  follows  without  delay. 

To  afford  relief  from  flies,  which  in  hot  weather  cause 
nearly  as  much  annoyance  as  fleas,  tar  soap  is  recom- 
mended, for  the  reason  that  the  odor  of  tar  is  highly  ob- 
jectionable to  them,  and  this  can  be  used  freely  in  wash- 
ing dogs  or  they  can  be  dipped  in  a  strong  suds  ;  and  in 
neither  case  will  it  be  necessary  to  rinse  them,  as  there 
is  nothing  poisonous  about  the  active  agent. 

Mature  dogs  are  seldom  infested  with  lice,  but  puppies 
are  frequent  victims,  and  their  favorite  habitat  is  the  back 
of  the  neck  and  around  the  ears,  where  they  appear  as 


138  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

very  small  steel-gray  specks.  An  emulsion  made  of  ker- 
osene oil  two  parts  and  fresh  skimmed  milk  one  part 
readily  destroys  these  insects,  and  without  causing  any 
irritation  of  the  skin. 

This  is  easily  prepared  as  follows  :  Heat  the  milk,  and 
while  yet  hot  put  it  into  a  bottle  considerably  larger  than 
required  by  the  mixture  ;  add  twice  as  much  oil  as  milk, 
and  shake  the  whole  vigorously  for  several  minutes  ;  by 
which  means  the  ingredients  will  be  quite  thoroughly 
mixed. 

As  soon  as  it  has  cooled  sufificiently  apply  the  mixture 
with  a  sponge  or  stiff  brush,  such  as  painters  use,  and  rub 
with  considerable  force  that  the  skin  may  be  well  bathed. 
On  the  day  following  such  application  it  will  be  advisable 
to  use  a  fine-tooth  comb  on  the  parts  treated,  and  if  any 
of  the  pests  are  then  found  alive  a  second  drenching  with 
the  oily  mixture  will  be  indicated. 

Another  highly  efficacious  remedy  for  lice  is  the  com- 
mon commercial  benzine,  which,  by  the  way,  is  of  great 
merit  not  only  as  an  insecticide  but  as  a  parasiticide,  not- 
withstanding the  strange  fact  that  it  is  but  rarely  used  on 
man  or  animals. 

It  costs  but  a  mere  trifle,  does  not  irritate  the  skin,  is 
perfectly  safe  for  external  use,  and  will  not  injure  or  stain 
the  finest  fabrics  ;  moreover,  there  are  but  few  medicinal 
agents  that  "  strike  in "  so  deeply  as  this,  hence  its  spe- 
cial value  in  diseases  of  hair  follicles,  all  of  which  involve 
the  minute  pores  of  the  skin. 

The  removal  of  wood-ticks,  with  which  dogs  are  occa- 
sionally troubled,  practically  requires  the  same  treatment 
as  lice.  But  should  this  jfail  the  solution  of  crude  car- 
bolic acid  and  water  recommended  for  the  destruction  of 
fleas  can  be  used. 

In  closing,  it  is  urged  that  in  every  instance  where  the 


TROUBLESOME  INSECTS. 


139 


kennel  of  a  dog  becomes  infested  with  any  of  the  trouble- 
some insects  or  he  acquires  an  obstinate  skin  disease  — 
and  especially  if  the  same  is  attended  with  itching  —  the 
bedding  be  at  once  destroyed,  the  kennel  thoroughly 
cleaned,  fumigated  with  sulphur  and  faithfully  white- 
washed in  every  part,  crack  and  crevice. 


PART    II. 


EXHIBITING. 


CHAPTER   I. 


PREPARATORY    WORK. 


The  truth  of  the  familiar  and  crude  apothegm  "It  costs 
no  more  to  keep  a  good  dog  than  a  poor  one  "  has  evi- 
dently found  wide  acceptance,  for  mongrels  are  rapidly 
disappearing  and  their  places  are  being  filled  by  pure 
breeds.  With  this  salutary  change,  and  a  natural  con- 
sequence of  it,  the  interest  in  competitive  exhibitions 
has  been  steadily  growing,  until  now  they  are  held  yearly 
in  goodly  number ;  and  so  great  is  the  pleasure  they  afford 
and  their  value  as  furnishing  abundant  material  for  criti- 
cal study  of  the  dog  in  improved  state  they  may  confi- 
dently be  expected  to  multiply  and  eventually  become  as 
fixed  and  popular  institutions  as  the  "  cattle  shows  "  of 
olden  times. 

So  rendering  the  signs  the  writer  feels  that  his  work 
would  be  far  from  complete  were  he  to  omit  a  discussion 
of  dog  shows  and  the  special  treatment  required  by  com- 
petitors. 

But  before  fairly  dipping  into  the  subject  he  would  disa- 
buse the  reader  who  is  possessed  of  the  prevalent  belief 
that  dog  shows  in   themselves   are  inimical  to   all   com- 

143 


144  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

petitors  and  of  all  ages,  and  that  the  dangers  threatened 
are  beyond  prevention. 

This  notion  owes  its  greatest  force  to  its  antiquity,  and 
like  the  cobwebs  that  obscure  so  many  healthful  truths 
has  stoutly  resisted  the  broom  of  intelligence  and  experi- 
ence. There  are  many  diseases  peculiar  to  the  human 
family  that  find  their  most  favorable  conditions  where 
children  congregate,  nevertheless  schools  exist  and  must 
continue  to  do  so  until  the  end  of  time.  Churches  might 
without  impropriety  be  called  "head  centres"  of  disease, 
for  in  them,  also,  the  conditions  are  quite  favorable  for  its 
wide  dissemination,  yet  the  non-going  never  rely  upon 
this  fact  for  an  excuse. 

And  so  with  dog  shows.  Were  a  dog  suffering  from  a 
highly  infectious  disease  admitted  to  one  of  them  he  could 
scarcely  fail  to  infect  some  of  his  competitors.  But  dogs 
are  not  subject  to  nearly  as  many  diseases  of  this  class  as 
mankind  ;  moreover,  at  the  present  time  so  much  is  known 
as  to  causation,  the  mediums  of  conveyance  and  methods 
of  prevention,  it  is  possible  to  hedge  around  these  shows 
safeguards  quite  as  efficient  as  those  which  man  employs 
against  his  own  peculiar  infectious  diseases. 

Children  in  schools  and  people  in  church  are  in  some 
danger  —  slight  though  it  be  in  many  instances  —  of  diph- 
theria, scarlet  fever,  measles,  whooping-cough,  itch,  ring- 
worm, and  a  number  of  other  diseases  of  like  character, 
whereas  scarcely  more  than  two  such  diseases  threaten 
dogs  at  shows ;  and  these  are  distemper  and  sarcoptic 
mange.  That  the  former  has  found  many  victims  at 
these  gatherings  is  a  deplorable  fact  which  no  attempt 
will  be  made  to  disguise,  but  there  was  a  time  when 
small-pox  yearly  destroyed  thousands  upon  thousands  of 
the  human  family,  yet  in  these  days,  in  civilized  countries, 
death  from  it  is  of  extremely  rare  occurrence ;   and  if  the 


PREPARATORY   WORK.  1 45 

well-known  means  of  prevention  is  universally  employed 
this  once  terrible  scourge  must  in  time  be  stamped  out  of 
existence. 

No  other  disease  has  declined  with  a  rapidity  approach- 
ing this,  but  all  of  the  same  character  whose  true  nature 
and  inner  workings  have  been  uncovered  have  taken  a 
downward  course  —  thanks  to  the  means  of  prevention 
that  are  becoming  better  and  better  understood  every 
year.  Distemper  is  no  eminent  illustration  of  this,  still  it 
is  not  a  notable  exception,  and  evidence  is  not  wanting 
that  at  shows,  at  least,  it  far  less  often  intrudes  than  it  did 
even  five  years  ago. 

The  idea  is  popular  that  all  must  have  scarlet  fever  or 
measles  some  time  in  life,  and  not  a  few  parents  who 
cleave  to  it  deliberately  expose  their  little  ones  to  vic- 
tims of  these  diseases  that  they  may  be  off  the  anxious 
seat  at  once.  A  similar  notion  about  distemper  exists 
among  dog  owners,  and  this,  with  its  kindred  shadow  from 
the  musty  past,  scarcely  more  opprobrious,  should  have 
long  since  been  dispelled. 

As  a  matter  of  fact  no  age  is  exempt  from  scarlet  fever 
or  measles,  and  the  same  is  true  of  distemper,  but  all 
these  diseases  have  a  very  decided  preference  for  young 
subjects,  and  the  danger  of  "taking"  them  lessens  gradu- 
ally as  maturity  approaches,  and  very  rapidly  after  that 
period.  In  other  words,  a  puppy  —  especially  if  not 
strong  and  hardy  —  is  always  an  easy  victim  to  distem- 
per, whereas  an  old  dog  stoutly  resists  infection. 

Fully  alive  to  this  fact  some  breeders  keep  their  pup- 
pies, of  all  ages,  away  from  shows  ;  and  this  is  an  admira- 
ble rule,  but  the  need  to  enforce  it  is  much  less  than 
it  was  a  few  years  ago,  for  at  the  present  time  a  fixed 
requirement  at  all  shows  held  by  clubs  comprising  the 
American  Kennel  Club  is,  that  every  competitor  shaK  be 


146  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

examined  by  a  duly  qualified  veterinary  before  he  is 
benched.  And  when  this  is  strictly  complied  with  a 
dog  suffering  from  distemper  is  not  at  all  likely  to  gain 
admission,  whereas  once  dogs  in  its  early  stages  were 
frequent  sights  at  these  exhibitions. 

Another  important  action  of  this  club  is,  that  no  puppy 
under  six  months  of  age  can  be  accepted  for  compe- 
tition. The  highly  salutary  provision  is  also  made  by 
nearly  all  managements  that  older  puppies  may  be 
removed  from  shows  at  the  expiration  of  the  second 
day,  or  the  day  they  are  judged.  Again,  reputable 
breeders,  alive  to  the  dangers  of  distemper  infection,  have 
quarters  for  the  sick,  in  which  they  at  once  place  and 
isolate  all  victims  of  distemper,  and  in  this  way  preclude 
the  possibility  of  their  show  dogs  being  carriers  of  con- 
tagion. More  than  this,  there  are  now  generally  em- 
ployed in  shows  methods  that  are  to  a  considerable 
degree  obstructive  to  infection  ;  and  these  appear  in 
the  painstaking  efforts  to  maintain  cleanliness  and  in  the 
lavish  use  of  chemicals. 

All  these  precautions  have  greatly  lessened  the  danger 
of  distemper  infection  at  shows ;  and  their  influence 
must  be  wide-spread,  for  beyond  the  dogs  that  congregate 
at  these  places  the  rate  of  mortality  from  this  disease 
plainly  appears  to  be  falling  every  year. 

As  for  sareoptic  mange,  the  other  disease  which  dogs 
are  liable  to  contract  at  shows,  the  danger  from  it  is  now 
very  slight  since  every  dog  must  be  carefully  examined 
on  entrance  ;  and  what  remains  can  be  wholly  obviated 
by  the  caretakers.  But  were  it  to  escape  detection  and 
a  dog  afflicted  with  it  to  be  admitted,  even  then  the  dan- 
ger to  others  would  not  exist  provided  they  were  not 
allowed  to  come  in  actual  contact  or  enter  his  stall,  and 
the  rules  to  be  given  later  on  for  the  benefit  of  exhibitors 
were  carefully  observed. 


•     PREPARATORY   WORK.  1 47 

Of  course  there  are  yet  other  diseases  that  might  be 
acquired  at  shows  but  the  liability  to  them  is  so  small  it 
ought  not  to  deter  any  one  from  exhibiting  his  dog  if 
desirous  of  doing  so ;  and  the  two  singled  out  —  distem- 
per and  sarcoptic  mange  —  have  been  discussed  at  consid- 
erable length  that  the  reader  may  know  the  pure  and 
simple  truth  and  be  able  to  judge  understandingly  of  the 
extent  of  the  danger  threatened  at  such  exhibitions. 
That  it  is  generally  greatly  over-estimated  is  a  very  unfor- 
tunate fact,  for  every  dog  that  seems  good  enough  to  win 
honors  should  be  allowed  to  try ;  moreover,  upon  the  num- 
ber of  entries  depends  much  the  public  interest,  and  the 
greater  the  latter  the  more  profitable  breeding. 

The  writer  will  endeavor  to  influence  favorably  this 
train  of  conditions  with  a  few  practical  hints,  and  he 
urges  that  if  they  are  carefully  observed,  mature  dogs 
while  at  shows  will  scarcely  be  in  greater  danger  of  infec- 
tious diseases  than  when  at  home  in  their  kennels. 

The  average  exhibitor  having  decided  to  enter  his  dog 
at  once  sets  about  putting  him  into  "condition"  to  appear 
at  his  best.  There  are  two  ways  of  doing  this,  and  they 
may  be  said  to  point  due  east  and  due  west,  for  they  are 
distinctly  opposite  — one  being  right  and  the  other  wrong. 
Unfortunately  the  latter  is  by  far  the  more  popular,  and  it 
consists  of  drugging  and  gorging.  Yet  as  far  as  form 
goes,  the  only  legitimate  way  to  put  a  dog  right  is  to  rely 
upon  hygienic  and  dietetic  means.  And  when  there  has 
been  a  considerable  falling  off,  very  generally  three  or  four 
months  is  required  to  do  this  work  well,  while  with  most 
dogs  that  are  in  fairly  good  condition  six  weeks  is  none 
too  long  a  time  for  it. 

Where  the  candidate  for  honors  is  badly  "off,"  being 
under  weight,  out  of  coat,  and  with  muscles  soft  and 
flabby  from  disuse,  it  is  well  to  start  in  with  a  dose  of 


148  KENNEL  SECRETS. 

worm-medicine.  And  this  having  acted  he  should  be 
entered  upon  a  course  of  training  by  exercise,  which 
should  be  systematic  and  conducted  if  possible  under  as 
rigid  dietetic  and  hygienic  rules  as  those  enforced  with 
athletes. 

Steady,  slow  work  should  be  the  rule  at  first  in  all 
instances,  and  this  should  be  persisted  in  with  the  largest 
non-sporting  breeds  —  the  walks  gradually  extended  each 
day  until  fairly  long  distances  are  being  covered  —  while 
with  most  of  the  other  varieties  it  must  be  intelligently 
quickened  as  they  gain  in  strength  and  endurance. 

In  hot  weather  this  exercise  should  invariably  be  in  the 
early  morning  —  never  under  a  roasting  sun,  for  then  it 
must  depress  instead  of  invigorate,  and  besides  invites 
heatstroke,  to  which  dogs  are  quite  as  liable  as  man. 

The  amount  of  exercise  required  of  course  depends 
upon  the  existing  conditions  —  the  state  of  health  and 
endurance,  individual  peculiarities,  etc.  But  it  is  safe 
to  say  that  where  the  dog  is  being  worked  on  the  chain 
and  has  been  in  training  for  two  or  three  weeks,  if 
other  than  a  toy  he  will  be  able  to  make  as  many  miles 
as  his  trainer  will  find  it  convenient  to  cover  on  foot. 
Should,  however,  the  fear  intrude  that  too  much  exercise 
is  being  given  it  will  be  necessary  merely  to  resort  to  the 
scales,  and  as  long  as  there  is  a  gain  in  weight  the  amount 
of  work  certainly  cannot  be  excessive. 

Always  after  an  outing  the  dog's  feet  should  be  exam- 
ined to  see  if  he  has  taken  up  small  stones  or  cut  himself 
with  bits  of  glass.  And  if  he  gets  wet  or  his  legs  and 
under-parts  have  been  splashed  with  mud  he  should  be 
carefully  sponged  and  well  dried  before  he  is  put  into 
his  kennel. 

Dogs  that  are  not  accustomed  to  much  exercise  are 
liable  to  stiffen  during  the  first  days,  especially  if  it  is 


PREPARATORY    WORK.  149 

carried  too  far,  but  they  soon  limber  up  and  rarely  is 
treatment  required  ;  should  it  seem  necessary  however, 
bathing  the  affected  parts  with  hot  water  will  speedily 
effect  a  cure. 

As  for  terriers  that  have  a  yard  or  run  to  their  kennels, 
they  do  not  require  nearly  so  much  work  as  the  large 
breeds,  for  they  are  nervous  and  restless,  and,  being  always 
on  the  move,  exercise  themselves. 

The  city  resident  of  many  cares  and  but  few  leisure 
moments  will  find  routine  exercise  well-nigh  impossible 
and  he  will  naturally  ask  if  there  is  not  some  means  of 
working  his  dog  without  long  walks  and  going  away  from 
home.  There  is  retrieving  the  ball ;  if  his  dog  has  been 
taught  it  he  might  be  worked  in  that  way  half  an  hour  or 
more  in  the  morning  and  the  same  length  of  time  at 
night,  after  he  had  been  given  slow  walking  exercise  for  a 
week  or  ten  days. 

There  is  also  the  exercising  machine  or  so-called  "  dog: 
power "  which  might  be  used  advantageously,  but  one 
trouble  with  that  is,  the  dog  is  apt  to  work  too  fast 
or  too  long  unless  very  nice  judgment  is  used.  Nor 
can  it  approach  nearly  in  value  the  exercise  yielded  by 
walks  and  scampers,  for  there  are  lacking  the  pure  air  and 
diversion  which  are  by  no  means  unimportant  considera- 
tions. However,  the  "dog  power"  can  be  made  useful,, 
but  intelligence  and  care  will  be  required. 

Sporting  dogs  that  have  much  fallen  off  in  form  cart 
scarcely  be  made  right  without  a  little  fast  work,  and 
unless  they  can  be  taken  into  the  field  occasionally,  which 
is  always  best,  a  good  place  for  them  is  behind  a  horse ; 
and  their  runs,  at  moderate  pace,  may  extend  to  from  ten 
to  thirty  miles  a  day,  provided,  of  course,  they  have  been 
brought  up  to  them  by  easy  stages. 

But  hard  runs  are  not  advisable,  as  many  seem  to  think. 


150  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

for  all  dogs  that  are  built  for  speed,  and  nearly  all  of  the 
exercise  for  greyhounds,  for  instance,  should  be  given  on 
the  chain.  Really  it  is  much  harder  work  for  a  dog  to 
walk  to  heel  —  on  chain  —  than  go  his  own  gait,  yet  there 
is  no  danger  of  draining  as  it  were  the  muscles  as  there 
might  be  in  hard  runs.  Beyond  this  there  is  still  another 
argument  of  no  little  importance  in  favor  of  chain  work, 
namely,  the  freedom  from  danger  of  fights,  picking  up 
unwholesome  food,  spurts  after  cats,  —  which  means  the 
loss  of  an  eye,  perhaps,  —  etc. 

Dogs  when  kept  in  training  for  a  great  time  if  given 
excessive  work,  and  especially  fast  work,  are  liable  to 
become  "stale"  and  lack  "fire"  at  the  critical  time;  yet 
without  hard  work  the  fire  is  merely  a  flash,  —  it  cannot 
be  depended  upon  to  last  through  a  series  of  long  and 
punishing  courses.  Nice  judgment  is  therefore  required 
lest  by  overwork  a  dog  be  overdone  and  he  become 
"stale,"  or  that  owing  to  incomplete  training  and  a  lack 
of  sufficient  work  his  wind  be  not  in  the  best  possible 
condition. 

But  this,  like  many  other  difficulties  which  confront 
the  practical  courser,  need  not  trouble  the  conditioner  of 
show  dogs.  They  will  be  able  to  stand  more  chain  work 
than  he  is  likely  to  give  them.  And  he  knows  that  those 
important  factors  of  success  in  the  field  —  stamina  and 
good  wind  —  cannot  be  tested  in  the  judge's  ring,  there- 
fore his  efforts  will  be  directed  to  having  his  dogs  hard  in 
flesh,  large  and  prominent  in  muscle  and  as  good  as  pos- 
sible in  coat.  He  will  also  bear  in  mind  that  road  work 
hardens  the  pads ;  and  as  good  feet  in  this  breed  count 
for  much  before  a  capable  judge  he  will  see  to  it  that 
nearly  all  the  exercise  is  taken  on  hard  ground. 

The  dogs  may  be  permitted  to  extend  themselves  for 
short  distances  every  day.     This  will  do  good,  for  it  will 


PREPARATORY   WORK.  151 

bring  into  play  muscles  which  should  not  be  permitted  to 
be  idle.  Coursing  the  hare,  however,  is  not  allowable  as  a 
means  of  either  training  or  conditioning  for  shows.  And 
a  dog  in  a  half-trained  condition  if  slipped  on  a  good, 
strong  hare  would  likely  be  injured  rather  than  benefited 
in  condition,  and  his  courage  might  meet  a  severe  shock. 
But  a  dog  that  is  "fit  "  might  be  given  a  hare  once  in  a 
while,  yet  only  very  seldom,  for  with  frequent  coursing 
most  dogs  become  "  cunning,"  and  when  asked  to  do  their 
best  in  competition  will  not  respond. 

Greyhounds,  like  other  dogs,  vary  considerably  in  mus- 
cular development  and  firmness  of  flesh.  Some  are  as 
hard  by  nature  and  without  training  or  conditioning  as 
others  which  have  undergone  a  most  thorough  prepara- 
tion ;  and  the  rule  for  this  breed  is  a  good,  stimulating 
and  solid  diet,  with  plenty  of  work  that  they  may  be  able 
to  carry  their  food  without  the  blood  getting  into  a  bad 
condition. 

Feed  at,  say,  six  p.m.  Brush  and  hand  rub  for  an  hour 
or  more  daily.  Give  ample  kennel  room  ;  let  the  same  be 
thoroughly  dry,  well  ventilated  and  free  from  draughts, 
and  these  dogs  should  show  up  hard  in  flesh,  fine  in  coat, 
prominent  in  muscle,  bright  in  eye  and  high  in  spirits. 

Deerhounds  also  do  well  on  slow  work,  and  a  walk  or 
an  easy  jog  behind  a  team  for  ten  or  fifteen  miles  every 
day  for  six  weeks  will  develop  muscle  and  health  more 
efficiently  than  faster  work,  and  without  the  danger  which 
attends  it  where  the  subject  is  or  has  been  recently  out 
of  condition.  They  may  be  made  right  for  the  show 
bench  in  the  same  way  as  greyhounds,  but  as  their  coats 
ought  to  be  hard  the  hand  rubbing  must  be  dispensed 
with  except  as  a  means  of  developing  the  thighs  ;  and 
brushing  sufficient  to  keep  their  coats  and  skins  clean  is 
all  that  is  necessary. 


152  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

Obviously  the  matter  of  exercising  is  one  that  requires 
knowledge,  judgment  and  care.  It  will  certainly  be  neces- 
sary to  understand  the  natures  of  dogs  thoroughly,  the 
peculiar  work  for  which  they  were  constructed,  their 
limits  of  endurance,  etc.,  and  to  study  them  intelligently, 
for  the  purpose  of  determining  where  they  are  weak 
and  need  development.  Then,  and  then  only,  in  many 
instances  can  exercise  be  judiciously  applied. 

It  is  well  to  advert  here  to  the  belief  which  is  widely 
entertained  that  dogs  can  be  conditioned  quite  as  well  by 
medicine  as  by  hygienic  methods ;  and  that  the  utter 
absurdity  of  this  view  may  appear  at  once  the  physiologi- 
cal effects  of  the  drugs  commonly  used  will  be  briefly 
considered. 

Arsenic,  the  most  popular  agent  for  this  purpose,  is 
both  a  tonic  and  a  deadly  poison,  and  while  in  nicely 
adjusted  doses  and  in  selected  subjects  that  abso- 
lutely require  such  a  tonic,  and  whose  peculiarities  of 
organism  are  perfectly  understood,  it  might  do  no 
harm,  and  might  possibly  do  good,  still  it  is  singu- 
larly prone  in  every  instance  to  impair  the  vital- 
ity. But  only  men  who  are  skilled  in  the  use  of  drugs 
and  have  an  intimate  knowledge  of  anatomy  and  physi- 
ology can  locate  the  danger  line,  and  even  they  must 
sometimes  pass  over  it  because  of  failure  to  recognize 
idiosyncrasies.  And  if  such  men  are  liable  to  fail  surely 
the  average  layman  is  not  at  all  likely  to  succeed. 

But  even  when  administered  understandingly  it  is  far 
from  being  suitable  for  conditioning  dogs,  for  although 
they  seem  to  fatten  after  taking  it  for  several  weeks  the 
rounding  out  is  not  occasioned  by  a  healthy  deposit  of  fat, 
but  is  largely  due  to  pufBness  of  certain  tissues,  or  what 
is  commonly  called  bloating.  This  seeming  improvement 
can  be  kept  up  for  a  long  time  if  the  doses  of  the  poison  are 


PREPARATORY  WORK.  153 

Steadily  increased,  provided  always  the  dog  is  much  at 
rest.  But  submit  him  to  a  railway  journey  and  the  dis- 
turbing influence  of  a  show,  and  he  will  shrink  rapidly 
from  the  first  day  —  his  spurious  fat  melting  as  it  were  — 
and  ere  he  is  home  again  he  will  not  only  be  back  to  his 
old  form  but  thinner  than  when  the  use  of  the  drug 
was  commenced. 

Iron  is  another  agent  often  used  in  preparing  for 
shows.  And  as  it  is  one  of  the  first  that  the  average 
layman  resorts  to  when  he  feels  he  needs  a  spur  it  is  not 
surprising  that  he  assumes  it  to  be  suitable  for  his  dog. 
But  the  value  of  iron  as  a  general  tonic  is  very  greatly 
over-estimated  ;  and  given  indiscriminately,  as  it  often  is, 
the  proportion  of  harmful  and  good  results  is  not  less 
than  ten  to  one ;  while  many  morbid  conditions  of  the 
system  in  which  it  was  once  supposed  to  be  of  high 
remedial  value  are  now  known  to  yield  much  more 
quickly  and  easily  to  other  drugs.  Again,  there  are  an 
immense  number  of  preparations  of  iron,  the  most  of 
which  have  their  special  purposes  and  act  well  in  certain 
classes  of  cases,  whereas  if  used  in  others  they  are  quite 
sure  to  do  harm. 

This  runs  counter  to  the  popular  belief  that  if  iron  fails 
to  do  good  it  can  do  no  harm,  but  that  is  without  founda- 
tion, for  when  wrongly  used  the  digestive  organs  are 
made  to  suffer  and  other  functions  are  more  or  less  dis- 
turbed. Considering  all  of  which,  iron  should  be  kept 
on  the  shelf  with  arsenic  while  one  is  conditioning  his 
dog. 

Yet  another  drug  often  resorted  to  when  preparing 
dogs  for  shows  is  quinine,  which  is  supposed  to  have 
special  action  on  the  appetite.  This,  also,  has  its  place 
among  remedial  agents,  but  as  an  appetizer  it  is  of  doubt- 
ful value  except  in  occasional  cases ;  and  as  a  matter  of 


154  KENNEL  SECRETS. 

fact  a  medicinal  appetizer  of  any  sort  is  rarely  needed, 
for  whenever  the  desire  for  food  abates  there  is  a  cause 
which  should  be  removed,  and  that  gone  the  appetite  will 
return  without  the  aid  of  drugs. 

What  has  been  said  of  arsenic,  iron  and  quinine  in  the 
main  holds  good  with  other  tonics,  individually  and  col- 
lectively, singly  and  combined,  as  "  conditioners,"  for  only 
dogs  that  are  sick  actually  require  them,  and  no  sick  dog 
nor  one  convalescing  should  be  sent  to  a  show. 

The  moral  of  all  this  is,  that  where  form  is  lacking  the 
only  proper  course  to  take  to  overcome  the  fault  is  to 
resort  to  hygienic  and  dietetic  means,  and  he  who  is 
denied  the  opportunities  to  apply  them  when  they  are 
needed  should  keep  his  dog  at  home. 


CHAPTER   II. 


THE    FEEDING. 

Under  properly  regulated  exercise  a  dog  fairly  healthy 
in  the  beginning  will  have  gained  at  every  point  before 
the  fourth  week,  his  muscles  having  noticeably  filled  and 
hardened,  his  step  become  more  elastic,  his  eye  bright 
and  clear,  his  skin  cleaner  and  softer,  and  his  hair  finer 
and  richer  in  hue.  Moreover  his  appetite  will  have  grown 
better,  and  his  digestive  organs  having  shared  in  the  gen- 
eral improvement  a  far  greater  proportion  of  his  food  will 
now  be  assimilated  and  devoted  to  flesh-building. 

Consequently  he  will  require  more  food,  and  it  may  be 
advisable  to  increase  the  number  of  his  meals  daily.  But 
if  fed  twice  daily,  which  is  often  enough  for  most  dogs, 
the  morning  feed  should  be  not  more  than  one-third  the 
quantity  given  later.  Increase  in  quantity  and  frequency 
would  of  course  have  been  hazardous  under  the  old  regime, 
but  now  that  he  is  taking  a  great  deal  of  exercise  both 
will  be  perfectly  safe,  provided  care  and  judgment  are 
used,  and  it  will  also  be  safe  and  expedient  to  give  him 
more  concentrated  and  nutritious  foods. 

In  making  up  the  diet  table  for  him  new  milk  at  once 


156  KENNEL  S'ECRETS. 

suggests  itself  as  the  principal  food  for  breakfasts  because 
it  works  like  a  charm  on  the  skin  and  coat.  But  for  a  dog 
that  is  much  out  of  condition  this  would  scarcely  be 
nutritious  enough,  therefore  it  is  advisable  to  fortify  it ; 
and  he  who  is  familiar  with  the  different  foods  at  com- 
mand and  their  relative  values  would  at  once  hit  upon 
eggs,  for  being  largely  composed  of  fatty  matter  they 
greatly  favor  nutrition,  tissue-building  and  force-produc- 
tion ;  furthermore,  they  also  have  an  admirable  action  on 
the  skin  and  coat. 

New  milk  in  generous  quantities  and  from  one  to  four 
raw  eggs — according  to  the  size  of  the  dog  —  lightly 
beaten  up  in  it  should  therefore  constitute  the  first  meal 
of  the  day. 

If  a  meal  at  noonday  is  necessary,  as  it  generally  is 
when  the  condition  is  very  low  and  the  date  of  the  show 
rapidly  approaching,  the  food  given  at  this  meal  must  be 
such  that  it  cannot  possibly  disorder  digestion.  Here, 
again,  raw  eggs  recommend  themselves,  for  of  all  highly 
nutritious  foods  they  are  the  most  easily  digested  and 
least  likely  to  cloy  and  impair  the  appetite  for  the  evening 
meal.  Consequently,  unless  it  so  happens  that  they  cause 
"  bilious  symptoms,"  which  is  but  rarely  the  case  where 
the  eggs  are  fresh,  about  the  same  number  given  in  the 
morning  should  again  be  given  at  noon,  and  in  milk  as 
before ;  but  the  quantity  of  the  latter  should  be  compara- 
tively small  and  only  sufficient  for  the  purpose  of  thinning 
down  and  disguising  the  eggs,  which  should  have  "  a  pinch" 
of  salt  to  push  them  as  it  were  even  more  rapidly  through 
the  stomach. 

Now  for  the  supper,  the  heartiest  meal  of  the  day. 
If  the  dog  has  very  decided  preferences  in  the  way  of  foods, 
and  those  he  likes  best  are  perfectly  suitable,  he  can  of 
course  be  properly  allowed  them,  but  exercising  freely  as 


THE  FEEDING.  157 

he  is  more  than  likely  he  will  be  ready  to  eat  whatever  is 
set  before  him.  His  food  must  be  concentrated  ;  in  other 
words  he  should  have  a  good  solid  feed,  and  it  should  be 
varied  and  consist  of  an  admixture  of  several  articles. 

As  for  instance,  if  there  are  not  table  scraps  in  ample 
quantity  and  eminently  suitable  in  quality  for  him,  one 
supper  should  consist  principally  of  stale  white  bread  and 
beef,  the  next  of  mutton  and  boiled  rice,  the  next  of  beef 
and  Graham  bread,  and  so  on,  with  boiled  sheep  and  beast 
heads  and  corn  meal  or  oatmeal  for  change.  Many,  by 
the  way,  object  to  corn  meal,  but  very  likely  one  pro- 
nounced reason  is  that  they  have  used  it  day  after  day  and 
week  after  week.  But  if  given  once  or  twice  a  week  it 
can  do  no  harm  unless  it  is  old  and  rancid. 

With  each  meal  there  should  be  one  vegetable  at  least, 
and  herein,  also,  should  be  variety  —  one  night  boiled  tur- 
nips, another  beets,  then  cabbages,  carrots,  potatoes  or 
some  of  the  various  greens.  And  accepting  without 
qualification  the  fact  that  the  bowels  should  be  regulated 
in  the  feeding-pan,  not  by  drugging,  these  greens,  oat- 
meal and  Graham  bread  should  be  mainly  relied  upon  when 
the  bowels  are  confined,  while  boiled  flour  would  be  the 
proper  remedy  were  they  relaxed. 

In  preparing  the  supper  the  bread,  crackers,  rice  or 
other  starchy  foods  should  be  just  softened  with  a  good 
rich  broth.  The  beef  or  mutton  should  then  be  chopped 
quite  fine,  and  the  vegetables  mashed  if  they  are  turnips, 
carrots,  beets  or  potatoes,  or  minced  if  they  are  cabbages 
or  greens.  And  after  the  ingredients  have  been  treated 
in  these  ways  they  should  be  all  so  well  mixed  that  the  dog 
cannot  pick  out  the  meat  if  disposed  to  do  so. 

A  word  here  as  to  forced  or  spoon  feeding.  It  is  only 
in  extremely  rare  instances  that  it  is  necessary  except  in 
sickness,  and  certainly  it  should  not  be  resorted  to  unless 


158  KENNEL  SECRETS. 

absolutely  necessary.  But  it  is  a  fact  that  one  at  least  of 
the  most  noted  winners  of  the  past  could  not  be  built  up 
to  weight  without  the  use  of  the  spoon.  And  should  the 
reader  be  so  unfortunate  as  to  encounter  another  such  he 
would  be  perfectly  justified  in  forcing  food  into  him,  using 
raw  eggs,  highly  concentrated  beef  broths  and  beef  ex- 
tracts for  the  purpose. 

While  the  dietary  recommended  is  the  one  which  can 
wisely  be  employed  with  the  most  common  varieties  of 
dogs  there  are  some  for  which  modifications  will  be  re- 
quired. To  greyhounds,  for  instance,  but  little  soft  food 
should  be  given,  nor  should  they  be  allowed  vegetables  in 
considerable  quantities  ;  in  fact  they  should  have  no 
more  than  demanded  to  keep  their  bowels  free  and  active. 
Their  mainstays  should  be  boiled  beef  and  mutton,  —  the 
latter  for  choice,  —  and  with  these,  in  the  absence  of  suita- 
ble table  scraps,  should  be  mixed  a  little  white  or  Graham 
bread  that  has  been  toasted  or  baked  until  nearly  as  brown 
and  crisp  as  rusks,  or  occasionally  a  little  hard  and  brown 
corncake  will  be  allowable,  and  to  these  ingredients  can 
be  added  what  vegetables  are  required  ;  while  once  or 
twice  a  week  it  will  be  a  good  plan  to  feed  on  raw  meat, 
chopped  fine,  with  a  raw  egg  over  it. 

On  this  diet  they  will  become  hard  and  firm  without 
the  desposition  of  fat ;  or  if  too  fat  they  will  grow  thinner 
under  it. 

Before  going  further  the  fact  deserves  emphasis  that 
there  should  be  a  fixed  hour  for  feeding  dogs,  and  they 
should  always  have  their  meals  on  time,  for  they  fret  when 
kept  waiting,  and  some  even  positively  refuse  to  eat  if 
their  dinner  is  an  hour  late,  while  others  go  to  bed  and 
eat  reluctantly  when  called ;  whereas  at  the  proper  time 
they  are  at  the  kennel  door  barking  and  plainly  asking  to 
be  fed. 


Tii:;  fii:t>i>  si»a.mi:i>,  ••ijkidfoki>  perfectioiv. 


THE   SrSSEX   SPAXIEt,,    '<  BRII>FORl>   OIl>l>IE." 


THE  FEEDING.  159 

Some  dogs  are  liable  to  become  over  weight  and  go  be- 
yond their  classes  when  they  are  being  put  in  condition  if 
they  are  not  carefully  watched,  while  on  the  other  hand 
some  require  to  be  pulled  down  a  bit.  If  they  are  of  the 
fairly  hardy  variety,  as  a  rule  far  better  more  exercise 
than  dietetic  restrictions,  but  if  they  are  delicate  toys, 
and  especially  Yorkshires,  the  remedy  lies  in  the  feeding- 
pan. 

But  before  considering  the  special  requirements  of  over- 
weight dogs  something  can  properly  be  said  of  the  feeding 
of  Yorkshires  in  general  and  other  toys  which  do  not  ex- 
hibit this  fault. 

In  dealing  with  Yorkshires  one  must  consider  above  all 
the  condition  of  blood  and  skin  and  growth  of  the  hair. 

Now  in  discussing  food  and  feeding  many  writers  have 
theorized  that  rice  being  fat -producing  is  not  suitable  for 
this  breed  and  should  not  be  given,  or  if  given  the  quan- 
tity should  be  very  small  indeed.  But  theories  and  re- 
sults of  practice  are  sometimes  at  variance,  and  so  it  proves 
in  this  instance,  for  it  is  a  fixed  and  absolute  fact  that  the 
staple  food  for  toys  and  especially  Yorkshires  is  rice. 
And  one  reason  for  its  special  suitability  lies  in  the  very 
argument  which  these  theorists  use  for  condemning  it, 
namely,  that  it  is  fat-producing.  Besides  this  effect,  how- 
ever, it  is  cooling,  good  for  the  skin  and,  as  a  result,  for 
the  coat. 

There  are  many  physicians  who  believe  that  the  food 
has  a  decided  influence  on  the  growth  of  the  hair  and  that 
the  starches  are  the  most  active  of  all.  Not  impossibly 
this  theory  is  correct,  and  certainly  experience  with  dogs 
would  seem  to  substantiate  it,  for  with  him  who  is  ad- 
mitted to  be  the  best  "  hair  grower  "  of  the  dog  world  rice 
is  the  food  of  all  relied  upon. 

But  while  the  question,  Will  food  promote  growth  of  the 


l6o  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

hair  ?  is  still  open,  there  is  no  disputing  the  fact  that  rice 
favors  its  health,  and  by  acting  on  the  skin  and  blood  it 
decidedly  lessens  its  tendency  to  break  and  fall  out. 

Rice  may  therefore  be  accepted  as  the  staple  food  for 
toys  and  especially  Yorkshires.  And  the  proper  way  to 
prepare  it  is  to  set  it  in  the  oven,  in  a  jar,  and  allow  it  to 
cook  for  at  least  two  hours  ;  or  if  the  oven  is  not  too  hot 
it  may  remain  there  all  night. 

The  first  meal  for  Yorkshires — and  what  will  do  for 
them  will  do  for  all  the  small  varieties  which  have  but 
little  out -door  exercise  —  must  be  of  new  milk,  and  the 
quantity  about  half  a  pint.  This  should  be  given  early  — 
say  at  seven.  About  three  hours  later  boiled  barley  and 
nice  fresh  tripe  that  has  been  boiled  in  milk  may  be  given. 
The  tripe,  by  the  way,  must  be  chopped  fine  and  mixed 
with  the  barley,  and  to  this  may  be  added  a  little  of  the 
milk  that  the  tripe  has  been  boiled  in. 

The  milk  used  in  feeding  may  be  warm  from  the  cow, 
or  if  cold  it  should  be  slightly  heated.  Ice-cold  food  will 
not  do  for  toys,  nor  must  they  be  given  hot  food.  In  a 
word,  they  like  it  better  with  the  chill  off  and  do  better 
with  it  so. 

Having  had  food  at  seven  and  ten,  at  about  three  o'clock 
a  small  quantity  of  new  milk  may  be  given. 

At  supper  time  they  should  have  a  feed  consisting  of 
three  parts  rice,  one  part  beef  or  mutton,  chopped  fine  and 
mixed  with  the  rice  —  a  little  gravy  or  broth  being  poured 
over  it  —  and  a  small  quantity  of  vegetables,  which  should 
also  be  thoroughly  mixed  with  the  other  ingredients. 

A  drink  of  lukewarm  milk  at  bed-time,  especially  in 
cold  weather,  can  do  no  harm. 

The  next  day  they  should  be  given  early,  as  usual,  a 
small  quantity  of  new  milk ;  and  at  ten  a  change  can  be 
made   to   milk  biscuits  that    have  been    steeped  in  milk 


THE  FEEDING.  l6r 

or  broth.  This  time  the  supper  may  consist  of  mashed 
potatoes  and  scraps  from  the  table,  but  there  must  not 
be  any  fat ;  while  the  other  feedings  should  be  much  the 
same  as  on  the  previous  day. 

Rice  should  be  given  three  or  four  times  a  week  mixed 
in  various  ways,  and  barley  once  or  twice. 

The  rule  is,  feed  oftener  than  with  large  dogs,  but  feed 
lightly  and  give  small  quantities  of  new  milk  not  less  than 
three  times  a  day. 

As  in  the  case  of  all  young  puppies,  "  little  and  often  " 
must  be  the  feeder's  motto.  Toy  dogs  are  not  unlike  chil- 
dren—  their  stomachs  must  not  belong  empty  and  the 
food  must  be  bland  and  unstimulating.  Rice,  milk,  barley, 
milk-biscuits,  bread  and  mashed  potatoes,  with  boiled 
tripe  and  small  quantities  of  roast  beef  and  mutton,  mut- 
ton broth,  gravy  and  vegetables,  will  keep  them  in  the 
best  condition  if  judiciously  used. 

The  main  thing  is  to  prevent  the  blood  from  becoming 
impure,  and  this  is  never  easy  where  so  little  exercise  is 
possible.  Once  a  week  a  little  magnesia  may  be  given 
with  the  milk  in  the  early  morning ;  while  the  droppings 
should  be  examined  every  day  and  prompt  means  taken  to 
right  them  if  wrong. 

In  the  hands  of  an  expert  a  Yorkshire  may  remain  in 
show  form  for  years,  whereas  under  wrong  treatment  he 
may  not  last  through  half  a  season.  And  it  is  scarcely 
necessary  to  add  that  none  but  they  who  have  some  knowl- 
edge of  the  treatment  of  toy  dogs  and  a  bountiful  fund  of 
patience  should  go  in  for  those  like  Yorkshires.  In  fact, 
two  dogs  of  this  breed  require  almost  as  much  care  as  one 
child,  and  it  is  the  sort  of  care  that  the  novice  cannot 
give. 

Now  to  a  consideration  of  overweight  dogs.  A  terrier 
weighing  a  trifle  over  five  pounds  may  be  good  enough  to 


1 62  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

win  in  the  "  under-five-pound  class  "  but  not  good  enough 
to  compete  with  the  big  ones,  therefore  his  owner  will 
naturally  strive  to  pull  off  the  odd  ounces  and  bring  him 
to  the  standard.  In  order  to  do  this  and  at  the  same 
time  have  him  in  show  form  he  must  feed  with  exceeding 
nicety.  He  must  bring  him  down  to  weight  but  he  must 
not  weaken,  and  in  fact  he  must  improve  his  general  con- 
dition if  possible. 

In  a  case  like  this  it  would  seem  that  animal  foods  could 
be  largely  relied  upon  as  the  least  likely  to  fatten,  but 
Yorkshires  ought  not  be  given  much  meat,  for  it  is  stimu- 
lating and  quite  sure  to  heat  them  up  if  allowed  in  con- 
siderable quantity  ;  nor  is  it  possible  to  give  the  amount 
of  exercise  required  to  obviate  this  effect  and  prevent  the 
blood  from  becoming  contaminated  with  the  impurities 
which  result  from  excess  of  animal  food.  These  impuri- 
ties present,  the  entire  system  suffers,  but  in  dogs  they 
seem  to  have  a  decided  preference  for  the  skin.  There- 
fore, once  the  blood  is  out  of  order  a  bad  condition  of  the 
skin  may  follow,  the  hair  will  then  of  course  be  affected, 
and  when  that  begins  to  come  out  it  will  fall  off  rapidly, 
and  the  owner  of  the  victim  would  likely  have  to  wait 
more  than  a  year,  and  perhaps  two  years,  before  he 
could  show  again. 

Consequently  "  lighter "  food  must  be  mainly  relied 
upon.  But  of  course  some  meat  can  be  given,  chopped 
very  fine,  and  what  vegetables  are  allowed  should  be  those 
that  grow  above  ground,  such  as  lettuce,  spinach  and  other 
"greens." 

While  new  milk  is  one  of  the  most  bland  and  least  stim- 
ulating of  foods  it  is  to  some  extent  fat-producing,  owing 
to  its  cream,  therefore  if  milk  is  allowed  the  overweighty 
it  should  be  skimmed  milk  or  buttermilk,  and  the  latter 
for  choice.     But  many  toys  do  not  seem  to  like  butter- 


THE  FEEDING.  163 

milk,  many  also  will  throw  it  back,  consequently  where  it 
is  refused  or  not  kindly  received  by  the  stomach,  skimmed 
milk  with  a  little  water  added  should  be  substituted.  And 
of  this  or  buttermilk  nearly  a  saucerful  might  be  given 
for  breakfast,  and  smaller  quantities  a  few  times  during 
the  day. 

It  is  well  to  add  that  although  advisable  to  restrict  the 
quantity  of  fluids  where  efforts  are  being  made  to  reduce 
the  weight  by  dietetic  means  alone,  without  the  assist- 
ance of  exercise,  an  exception  can  be  made  of  skimmed  or 
buttermilk  because  of  their  stimulant  action  upon  the  kid- 
neys, by  means  of  which  the  slight  fat -producing  tendency 
is  more  than  compensated  for. 

Mutton  is  less  fattening  than  beef,  therefore  it  is  to  be 
preferred  in  a  case  like  the  one  under  consideration.  Rich 
soups  favor  a  laying  on  of  fat,  consequently  they  must 
be  forbidden.  As  for  starchy  foods,  the  quantity  of  them 
for  all  overweight  dogs  must  be  very  small  indeed,  and  it 
would  be  advisable  always  to  restrict  them  largely  if  not 
wholly  to  plain  biscuits  and  "white  bread"  that  has  been 
toasted  or  baked  until  brown  and  crisp. 

In  a  word,  mutton  broth  and  biscuits,  or  broth  with 
toast,  mutton,  a  bit  of  the  greens  occasionally,  and 
skimmed  milk  or  buttermilk  should  be  the  main  sup- 
ports in  feeding  an  overweighty  Yorkshire  ;  while  for 
a  change  he  might  be  allowed  "  tea  sops  "  —  bread  or 
toast  soaked  in  tea  —  if,  like  the  most  of  his  kind,  he 
seemed  to  care  for  them. 

Every  day  he  should  be  put  on  the  scales,  and  if 
found  gaining  in  weight  either  the  quantity  of  food  must 
be  lessened  or  all  starchy  foods  discontinued  for  a  short 
time  ;  in  which  event  milk,  meat  and  the  "greens  "  must 
be  mainly  depended  upon.  And  this  diet  could  be  made 
more  nutritious  without  increasing  the  fat-producing  ten- 


1 64  KENNEL  SECRETS. 

dency  by  the  addition  of  the  white  of  a  raw  egg  to  each 
feed. 

In  the  mean  time  it  would  be  absolutely  necessary  to 
watch  his  droppings  closely,  and  increase  slightly  the  quan- 
tity of  "greens"  did  constipation  exist ;  whereas  were  a 
tendency  to  diarrhoea  noted  the  indications  would  be  to 
lessen  the  amount  of  these  vegetables,  and  perhaps  the 
heartier  foods,  and  feed  for  a  time  largely  on  new  milk 
that  had  been  boiled  and  afterward  fortified  by  the  white 
of  a  raw  egg  and  a  little  boiled  flour ;  while  in  actual 
diarrhoea  did  the  milk  appear  undigested  in  the  discharges 
spoon  feeding  with  the  white  of  raw  eggs,  beaten  lightly 
in  a  little  water,  should  be  resorted  to  until  marked 
improvement  had  been  noted,  and  one  or  two  drops  of 
laudanum  given  every  two  or  three  hours  if  absolutely 
required. 

At  this  point  there  intrudes  a  fact  which  has  a  special 
bearing  on  feeding  hardy  dogs  that  must  be  pulled  down 
in  weight.  It  is,  that  where  a  meal  is  made  on  one  sub- 
stance alone,  whatever  its  nature  —  whether  animal  or 
starchy  —  even  if  that  is  allowed  to  some  excess  the  ten- 
dency to  fatten  is  less  than  it  would  be  were  the  meal 
made  up  of  several  substances  and  the  quantity  of  all  com- 
bined was  less  than  that  of  the  one  substance  allowed.  In 
other  words,  feed  a  dog  wholly  on  meats  or  wholly  on 
vegetable  foods  and  they  will  not  prove  as  fattening  as  a 
smaller  quantity  of  the  same  foods  in  combination. 

Resuming  the  consideration  of  the  foods  generally 
required  by  the  most  common  varieties  of  dogs  out  of  con- 
dition, what  has  been  said  of  the  nutritive  value  of  raw 
eggs  in  their  entirety  may  lead  to  the  supposition  that 
there  are  other  fatty  foods  which  would  do  quite  as  well  as 
they.  But  all  such  foods  are  not  alike  serviceable,  for 
many  of   them    in  any  form  are  too  great  a  burden  to 


THE  FEEDING.  1 65 

the  digestive  organs,  and,  besides,  with  scarcely  an  excep- 
tion they  are  rendered  much  less  digestible  by  cooking. 
Hence  of  foods  that  abound  in  fat,  eggs  should  be  used 
to  the  exclusion  of  all  others. 

But  fresh  eggs  —  and  they  must  invariably  be  fresh  — 
are  not  easily  obtained  at  certain  seasons  of  the  year,  con- 
sequently it  is  well  to  inform  the  reader  of  another  fat 
that  can  be  called  into  service  if  this  one  is  wanting. 

Cod-liver  oil  recommends  itself,  for  it  is  disposed  of  with 
such  ease  it  can  generally  be  taken  for  months  without 
disordering  digestion.  And  animals  to  which  it  is  given 
not  only  increase  in  weight  but  become  much  richer  in 
blood.  Moreover,  a  nice  adjustment  of  doses  is  rarely 
necessary,  and  if  too  much  happens  to  be  given  it  has 
merely  a  laxative  effect. 

Commencing  with  a  dose  of  two  teaspoonfuls  for  mem- 
bers of  the  largest  varieties,  one  teaspoonful  for  dogs 
of  about  the  size  of  English  setters,  or  one-half  that 
quantity  for  smaller  breeds,  the  droppings  should  be 
watched  and  an  increase  made  each  day  until  the  dose 
is  five  or  six  times  greater  than  at  first,  provided  no  effect 
upon  the  bowels  is  noted.  And  at  least  two  doses  can  be 
given  daily  with  the  food. 

This  oil,  by  the  way,  should  be  invariably  purchased  of 
druggists  of  good  repute,  for  from  them  only  is  one  likely 
to  obtain  a  pure,  refined  quality ;  and  as  it  becomes  rancid 
in  time  purchasers  will  do  well  to  buy  a  quantity  sufficient 
to  last  for  but  two  or  three  weeks,  and  keep  it  in  a  cool 
place  while  being  used. 


CHAPTER   III. 


CONDITIONING    THE    COAT. 


When  the  general  health  of  a  dog  is  impaired  the  fact 
is  registered  in  his  skin  and  hair,  they  losing  in  corre- 
sponding degree  their  natural  softness  and  elasticity  and 
smoothness  and  lustre.  And  as  the  complexion  is  cleared 
and  brightened  by  exercise,  so  are  the  dog's  skin  and  jacket 
improved  by  the  same  means.  But  while  hygienic  and 
dietetic  influences  act  upon  both  man  and  the  dog  in  pre- 
cisely the  same  way,  outwardly  the  salutary  effect  is  much 
less  quickly  apparent  in  the  latter,  and  he  may  have  been  ill 
and  long  since  recovered  and  yet  his  coat  be  still  quite  dry 
and  staring.  And  it  may  be  all  this  even  in  the  presence 
of  continuous  good  health  if  cleanliness  has  not  been 
maintained  by  grooming. 

But  even  if  a  dog  is  well  and  has  been  faithfully  cared 
for  in  this  direction  there  is  always  work  to  be  done  on 
his  coat  before  he  can  be  shown  at  his  best ;  and  as  the  de- 
tails of  this  are  not  generally  well  understood,  a  discussion 
of  them  can  scarcely  be  without  profit  to  the  average 
reader. 

i66 


CONDITIONING    THE  COAT.  167 

The  amount  and  character  of  the  work  to  be  put  in  on 
the  coat  of  course  depend  upon  the  breed  and  the  exist- 
ing conditions.  For  instance,  the  standard  for  beagle 
hounds  calls  for  a  coarse,  not  a  fine,  coat ;  and  obviously 
were  one  of  these  dogs  treated  to  the  methods  required 
by  setters  a  defect  would  be  intensified  if  not  actually 
created.  Again,  the  coats  of  some  kinds  of  terriers 
must  be  hard  and  wiry,  and  efforts  to  make  them 
soft  and  pliant  would  simply  detract  from  the  merits  of 
these  dogs.  On  the  -other  hand,  the  coat  of  the  Maltese 
must  be  as  soft  and  silky  as  possible ;  that  of  the  York- 
shire bright  and  flossy ;  while  the  toy  spaniels  must  have 
coats  that  are  soft  and  fine.  Manifestly  were  a  German 
poodle,  whose  coat  is  corded,  treated  to  the  same  method 
of  brushing  and  combing  that  these  toys  demand  his 
identity  could  scarcely  be  retained. 

Going  a  little  farther  in  this  direction  it  is  noted  that 
when  the  Clumber  spaniel's  coat  is  in  good  condition  it 
is  straight  and  silky,  while  the  coat  of  the  Irish  water 
spaniel  is  in  short,  crisp  curls.  The  greyhound's  coat* 
must  be  smooth  and  glossy  ;  and  very  evidently  one  would 
have  a  hard  time  of  it  were  he  to  try  to  bring  the  roughs 
shaggy  coat  of  the  deerhound  to  this  condition. 

But  it  is  unnecessary  to  go  farther  in  this  direction,  for 
the  tyro  has  simply  to  determine  what  the  standard  for 
dogs  of  the  same  breed  as  his  calls  for  and  then  adjust 
his  work  of  conditioning  the  coat  accordingly. 

If  a  dog  is  kept  right  —  that  is,  properly  fed,  given 
ample  exercise  and  groomed  regularly  —  his  coat  ought  to 
be  in  fair  condition  always,  and  the  work  of  bringing  it 
to  its  best  should  be  comparatively  easy  and  not  require 
more  than  three  or  four  weeks,  perhaps.  If,  however,  it 
should  be  fine,  smooth  and  glossy  yet  is  coarse,  dry  and 
staring,  then  several   months   might  be  required  to  get  it 


1 68  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

back.  But  whatever  its  condition  the  essential  treatment 
should  be  begun  as  early  as  possible,  —  and  preferably 
always  with  the  training  —  for  unless  under  the  standard 
the  coat  of  the  dog  should  be  coarse  instead  of  fine  there 
is  always  room  for  improvement  no  matter  how  high  its 
polish. 

The  duty  of  removing  all  fleas  and  other  vermin  and 
thoroughly  cleaning  the  skin  and  hair  should  first  engage 
the  owner;  and  assuming  that  his  dog  is  other  than  a 
delicate  toy,  it  will  be  advisable  to  employ  some  of  the 
powerful  insect  destroyers  —  see  chapter  "Troublesome 
Insects"  —  and  afterward  wash  faithfully,  using  soap  as 
freely  as  required. 

This  done,  if  the  skin  is  very  dry,  rough  and  inelastic 
and  the  hair  staring,  harsh  and  brittle,  and  the  date  of  the 
show  is  near,  it  will  be  a  good  plan  to  use  cod-liver  oil  ex- 
ternally for  a  few  days.  Having  been  drenched  with  this, 
the  dog  should  be  swathed  with  cotton  cloth,  if  he  will 
allow  it  to  remain  on,  or  covered  with  a  thin  blanket,  and 
put  into  clean  quarters  supplied  with  an  abundance  of 
clean  straw  for  bedding.  And  during  the  next  four  or 
five  days  this  oil  should  be  applied  about  once  daily  —  be- 
ing used  always  in  generous  quantity  —  and  finally  washed 
off. 

If  now  the  skin  is  still  dry  another  such  drenching 
should  follow  and  be  kept  up  nearly  as  long  as  before. 
And  a  dog  must  be  in  a  rank  condition  if  this  treatment 
will  not  cause  a  very  decided  gain.  The  oil,  by  the  way, 
not  only  softens  the  skin  and  hair  and  improves  nutrition 
at  the  surface,  but  to  some  extent  it  is  absorbed  and  has 
much  the  same  effect  as  when  given  internally. 

After  the  washing  it  would  be  well  for  the  subject  of 
this  treatment  to  wear  a  blanket  for  a  week  or  more. 
One  would  not  of  course  ordinarily  blanket  a  long-coated 


CONDITIONING    THE    COAT.  1 69 

dog,  but  it  would  be  advisable  when  the  coat  is  badly  off 
and  very  rough  and  staring,  for  it  would  keep  the  hair 
down,  and  a  moderate  degree  of  heat  being  conducive  to 
fine  hair,  the  extra  warmth  would  have  a  tendency  to  make 
the  coat  fine  and  glossy.  On  the  other  hand,  were  a  collie, 
for  instance,  soft  in  coat  it  would  not  do  to  blanket  him, 
but  on  the  contrary  it  would  be  well  to  make  him  give  up 
his  kennel  quarters  for  a  time  and  rough  it. 

Now  comes  the  grooming,  which  must  be  done  faithfully 
at  least  once,  or  better  twice,  every  day ;  and  the  longer 
the  time  the  owner  devotes  to  it  the  greater  his  dog's 
chances  of  winning. 

The  hair  once  straightened  out,  —  exceeding  care  and 
gentleness  being  used  in  the  operation  —  unless  the  coat 
is  naturally  rough,  shaggy  or  curly  the  comb  should  be 
laid  aside,  to  be  resorted  to  only  when  absolutely  required. 
And  it  is  not  safe  to  use  it  often  on  a  long-coated  dog  like 
a  collie,  because  the  teeth  are  liable  to  get  down  to  the 
undercoat ;  and  many  a  dog  of  this  breed  has  had  his  coat 
ruined  for  the  show  season  by  carelessness  or  ignorance 
on  the  part  of  the  kennel-man.  Nor  is  the  use  of  the 
comb  often  necessary  with  the  common  varieties  of  dogs, 
other  than  those  with  coats  like  the  deerhound,  where  a 
good  brushing  is  given  every  day. 

The  brush  — of  bristles  from  an  inch  and  one-quarter  to 
an  inch  and  one-half  in  length  for  long-coated  dogs,  or  a 
dandy  brush  for  the  smooth-coated  —  should  be  used  for 
at  least  half  an  hour  every  morning.  This  should  be  fol- 
lowed by  hair  gloves,  and  these  be  kept  busy  for  about 
the  same  length  of  time.  Then  should  come  the  rubbing 
with  the  bare  hands, — the  one  means  of  all  for  putting  on 
a  high  polish  —  and  this  also  should  be  persisted  in  for 
half  an  hour,  and  even  an  hour  if  possible. 

All  this  must  be  done  at  least  once  a  day  in  order  to  put 


I70  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

the  coat  of  a  fine-haired  dog  in  prime  condition  ;  and  if 
he  is  to  enter  good  company  his  owner  would  do  well  to 
have  all  these  operations  repeated  again  toward  evening. 
And  were  they  kept  up  day  after  day  for  several  weeks, 
and  proper  diet  and  sufficient  exercise  given  in  the  mean 
time,  did  the  decision  rest  solely  on  condition  of  coat,  the 
dog  to  which  this  treatment  had  been  faithfully  adminis- 
tered would  be  a  sure  winner  over  all  others  that  had  been 
denied  it. 

Doubtless  some  who  contemplate  showing  will  say  that 
it  would  be  utterly  impossible  for  them  to  observe  these 
directions  and  devote  so  much  time  to  their  dogs.  But 
the  writer  cannot  follow  them,  for  there  is  no  compromise 
treatment.  They  can  be  assured  that  under  righteous 
judges  a  dog  of  average  merit  with  a  coat  in  poor  condi- 
tion will  always  be  beaten  by  a  poorer  dog  whose  coat  is  in 
grand  condition.  Also,  that  in  order  that  a  dog  whose  coat 
according  to  the  standard  should  be  glossy  may  appear  at 
his  best,  with  all  his  chances  of  winning,  he  must  be 
brushed  and  rubbed  with  the  gloves  and  bare  hands ;  and 
if  his  hair  is  fine  and  enough  of  this  is  done,  when  he 
enters  the  ring  it  should  have  the  gloss  of  satin  or  highly 
polished  ivory. 

The  hand  rubbing —  of  which  there  cannot  be  too  much 
during  the  last  three  weeks  —  should  be  kept  up  until 
the  last  washing  before  the  show  ;  and  after  that  clean 
chamois  leather  or  a  towel  should  be  used,  for  one  cannot 
keep  his  hands  perfectly  clean  at  a  show,  and  soiled  hands 
would  be  sure  to  soil  the  coat. 

With  all  dogs  whose  muscles  should  stand  out  like 
those  of  an  athlete,  or  in  other  words  all  which  ought 
to  have  "bossy"  muscle,  —  as  bull-dogs,  bull  terriers 
and  greyhounds,  —  in  rubbing  with  the  hands  the  thighs 
should  be  rubbed  both  ways,  and  at  the   same  time  the 


CONDITIONING    THE  COAT.  I/I 

muscles  should  be  firmly  grasped,  kneaded  and  rolled  for 
the  purpose  of  stimulating,  enlarging  and  hardening  them. 
This  rubbing  up  and  down  and  massage  ruffles  the  hair, 
and  of  course  the  same  must  be  brushed  and  hand  rubbed 
its  way  until  the  coat  is  right. 

There  must  not  be  any  mistake  in  this  matter.  The 
thighs  of  dogs  only  like  those  stated  should  be  rubbed 
both  ways,  while  all  others  should  be  brushed  and  rubbed 
always  the  one  way  —  with,  not  against,  the  hair. 

Special  precautions  against  fleas  should  be  taken  in  the 
kennels  of  dogs  that  are  being  put  right  for  shows,  for 
these  dogs  must  not  be  washed  any  oftener  than  abso- 
lutely necessary  for  cleanliness.  And  it  is  well  to  add 
that  excepting  when  they  get  badly  soiled  in  their  runs  it 
will  scarcely  be  required  more  than  two  or  three  times 
during  the  entire  period  of  training  or  conditioning  if  they 
are  faithfully  groomed  every  day.  Nor  will  it  be  advisa- 
ble after  the  first  thorough  work  of  extermination  to  use 
any  of  the  powerful  flea  destroyers  in  the  form  of  liquids 
or  soaps  which  contain  much  carbolic  acid,  alcohol  or 
strong  alkalies,  for  these  might  prove  prejudicial  to  the 
skin  and  hair. 

In  fact  it  will  be  well  to  rely  if  possible  on  insect  pow- 
der, and  this  ought  to  prove  effective  with  good  groom- 
ing, which  alone  renders  fleas  very  uncomfortable  and 
leads  them  to  seek  other  victims  that  are  less  well  cared 
for. 

But  the  dog's  quarters  and  bedding  should  be  scrupu- 
lously clean  always,  and  the  former  frequently  treated  to 
the  most  powerful  destroyers,  the  liquids  being  chosen  if 
the  weather  is  such  that  speedy  drying  will  follow  their 
use,  while  insect  powder  must  be  depended  upon  under 
other  conditions  ;  and  this  should  be  blown  into  all  cracks 
and  crannies  every  two  or  three  days. 


1/2  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

Clean,  coarse  straw  will  be  the  best  for  bedding,  and 
before  it  is  put  in  it  will  be  well  to  sprinkle  freely  over  it 
the  liquid  extract  of  flea  powder  or  infusion  of  quassia  ; 
after  which  it  should  be  thoroughly  dried. 

As  for  washing,  that  must  be  done  very  carefully,  and 
if  soaps  are  used  they  should  be  above  suspicion,  it  being 
accepted  that  the  purest  and  best  are  none  too  good  in 
this  instance.  But  soaps  should  seldom  be  used  with  dogs 
that  have  very  thin  skins,  as  the  Italian  greyhound,  and 
others  whose  jackets  are  becoming  highly  polished  under 
the  grooming  and  rubbing.  Nor  will  they  often  be  re- 
quired on  any  dog  that  is  groomed  as  faithfully  and  fre- 
quently as  he  ought  to  be,  the  fact  being  fixed  that  the 
more  of  this  treatment  he  gets  the  less  washing  he  needs. 

With  dogs  that  have  thin  skins,  if  their  hair  is  short  and 
they  are  naturally  cleanly  in  their  habits,  rubbing  with  a 
damp  cloth  or  sponge  and  afterward  with  a  dry  flannel 
will  ordinarily  suflfice. 

Some  breeders  of  dogs  whose  jackets  are  silken  and 
brilliant  use  raw  eggs,  instead  of  soap,  in  washing.  They 
would  answer  the  purpose  with  an  Italian  greyhound,  a  toy 
black-and-tan  or  a  Maltese,  but  for  obvious  reasons  they 
would  not  be  adapted  to  general  use,  and  excepting  in  ex- 
tremely rare  cases  could  not  rightly  be  held  superior  to  a 
soap  of  good  quality.  However,  for  those  who  care  to  use 
them  here  are  the  directions  :  — 

Break  as  many  eggs  as  required  —  according  to  the 
size  of  the  dog  —  in  a  hand  basin,  and  beat  sufficiently  to 
mix  whites  and  yolks.  Then  add  warm  water  in  relative 
proportion  of  one  pint  to  four  eggs.  Work  this  through 
the  coat  to  the  skin  ;  and  after  the  dog  is  well  lathered 
have  some  one  pour  tepid  water  over  him  while  you  con- 
tinue to  shampoo  until  every  trace  of  the  eggs  has  been 
washed  out,  keeping  in   mind  the  fact  that  the  rinsing 


^   CONDITIONING   THE   COAT.  173 

must  be  thorough,  otherwise  the  hair  will  be  left  in  a 
very  sticky  state. 

Notwithstanding  the  injunction  to  use  only  the  best 
soaps  on  dogs,  and  the  natural  desire  of  all  to  comply  with 
it,  many  are  likely  to  stumble  at  this  point  since  so  large 
a  proportion  of  the  brands  reputed  to  be  of  the  highest 
qualities  are  of  cheap  ingredients  and  therefore  practically 
worthless  as  well  as  injurious  to  the  skin  and  coat.  Con- 
sequently the  reader  should  be  provided  with  a  formula 
for  preparing  his  own  soap  for  kennel  use. 

Mr.  Charles  H.  Mason,  a  breeder  and  exhibitor  of  long 
experience,  and  now  known  to  the  kennel  world  as 
America's  foremost  judge,  informs  the  writer  that  the 
best  kennel  soap  of  which  he  knows  is  made  as  follows  :  — 

I  pound  of  "  Crown  soap," 

I  ounce  of  "mild"  mercurial  ointment, 

I  ounce  of  powdered  camphor. 

These  ingredients  must  be  thoroughly  mixed. 

Mr.  Mason  used  this  soap  for  at  least  ten  years,  and 
with  the  best  results,  as  proved  by  the  many  reports  of  the 
English  papers  praising  the  condition  of  his  dogs. 

"  Crown  soap,"  as  it  is  called  in  this  country,  is  a  soft 
soap  which  is  extensively  used  for  various  purposes  in 
England,  often  by  ladies  in  washing  their  hair,  and  many 
of  them  have  asserted  that  no  other  soap  leaves  it  so  soft 
and  silken.  But  here  the  use  to  which  it  is  largely  de- 
voted is  cleaning  fine  harness,  the  leather  of  which  it 
leaves  in  good  color,  glossy  and  "kind."  And  from  har- 
ness dealers  it  can  be  obtained  in  jars  or  barrels. 

It  is  presumably  made  of  seed  oils,  and  differs  vastly  in 
value  as  well  as  composition  from  the  common  soft  soaps 
of  America,  which  are  very  generally  manufactured  from 
refuse  fat  and   grease,  and  are  so  strongly  alkaline  that 


174  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

they  are  most  decidedly  injurious  to  the  skin  and  hair. 
Consequently  the  reader  must  not  attempt  to  substitute 
one  of  them. 

"Mild"  mercurial  ointment  is  called  for,  but  there  is 
none  such  in  the  American  pharmacopoeia,  and  he  who 
has  this  formula  put  up  should  inform  his  druggist 
that  he  desires  the  mercurial  ointment  popularly  known 
as  "blue  ointment,"  and  that  it  should  be  diluted  one- 
half;  or  he  can  obtain  the  ointment  in  full  strength  and 
add  to  each  pound  of  soap  one-half  an  ounce  of  it  instead 
of  one  ounce  of  the  diluted  or  "mild." 

Soft  soap  of  good  quality  is  much  used  by  physicians  in 
cutaneous  diseases,  and  chiefly  eczema  and  scabies.  As 
for  mercurial  ointment,  that  has  a  destructive  action  on 
parasitic  growths  and  vermin  ;  while  camphor  is  a  sedative 
and  allays  itching.  It  will  appear,  therefore,  that  soap 
made  after  the  foregoing  formula  must  be  most  admir- 
able, not  only  as  a  means  of  cleanliness  and  of  pro- 
moting health  of  the  skin,  but  also  as  an  insecticide  and 
preventive  of  mange  and  other  skin  disorders.  That  it  is 
really  all  this  experience  has  abundantly  proved,  and  the 
writer  unhesitatingly  places  it  before  all  others  for  use  in 
the  kennel. 

Drying  should  always  be  effected  as  speedily  as  possible 
after  washing,  and  with  soft  and  perfectly  clean  towels, 
the  rubbing  on  long-coated  dogs  at  least  being  carefully 
and  gently  done.  And  in  all  instances  the  drying  of 
these  dogs  should  be  followed  by  a  gentle  use  of  the 
brush.  But  that  must  be  perfectly  clean,  and  it  is  easily 
made  so  by  standing  it,  bristles  down,  in  a  shallow  pan 
containing  a  strong  mixture  of  the  water  of  ammonia  and 
water,  and  rinsing  well  afterward. 

The  brushing  over,  the  dogs  should  be  blanketed  and 
bedded  with  clean  straw.     It  is  well  to  add  here  that  it  is 


CONDITIONING    THE   COAT.  1 75 

the  custom  of  some  to  hand  rub  after  the  brushing  and 
while  the  coat  is  yet  slightly  damp,  but  to  this  there  is  the 
decided  objection  that  the  hands  then  draw  too  much  on 
the  roots  of  the  hair. 

While  as  a  rule  to  wash  a  dog  properly  is  not  difficult, 
the  washing  of  Yorkshire  terriers  is  an  entirely  different 
matter,  and  here  the  novice  would  be  all  at  sea;  in  fact  he 
should  never  attempt  it  on  a  good  dog,  for  many  a  "crack" 
has  been  ruined  in  the  tub ;  consequently  for  him  should 
be  given  full  directions. 

A  foot-pan  is  as  good  as  anything  to  do  the  washing  in. 
Place  this  on  the  table.  Put  in  as  much  lukewarm  water 
as  will  nearly  reach  to  the  dog's  elbows.  Mix  in  the  soap 
until  you  have  suds  —  never  rub  the  soap  on  the  dog.  Now 
take  a  brush,  a  hair-brush  that  has  a  handle  and  long 
bristles,  dip  it  in  the  suds  and  brush  from  the  centre  of 
the  back  down,  and  always  one  way.  The  head  must  be 
washed  in  the  same  manner :  brush  from  the  centre  down- 
ward; in  fact  use  the  brush  just  as  you  do  when  not 
washing. 

When  you  are  sure  you  have  reached  all  parts  and  the 
hair  and  skin  are  thoroughly  clean,  pass  the  hand  from 
the  centre  of  the  back  downward  and  force  out  as  much 
of  the  soap  and  water  as  you  can  ;  and  then  use  the  sponge 
in  about  the  same  way.  This  done,  lift  the  dog  out  and 
put  him  into  another  tub,  which  is  all  ready  on  the  table, 
containing  clean  lukewarm  water,  and  brush  him,  just  as 
you  did  with  the  suds,  until  all  the  soap  is  out.  With  the 
hands  and  sponge  get  out  as  much  water  as  you  can. 
Remove  him  from  the  tub  and  stand  him  on  the  table, 
put  over  him  a  cloth  or  towel  and  pass  the  hands  over  it 
with  gentle  pressure,  that  it  may  take  up  some  of  the 
water  that  remains  in  his  coat ;  but  on  no  account  must 
the  hair  be  rubbed  or  ruffled. 


176  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

Now,  after  combing  him  with  a  comb  that  has  widely  set 
teeth,  begins  a  long  and  tedious  process  of  drying.  For 
this  you  must  have  two  or  three  brushes,  and  while  one  is 
being  used  the  others  must  be  drying  in  front  of  the  fire. 

This  drying  will  occupy  a  full  hour.  When  completed, 
take  a  little  fine  oil  in  the  palm  of  the  hand,  rub  the  hands 
together  and  then  pass  them  over  the  coat.  This  done, 
tie  up  the  "  bang  "  with  a  piece  of  ribbon  or  tape  to  keep 
it  from  the  eyes. 

Some  dogs,  in  fact  nearly  all,  will  "  fiddle  "  —  scratch  — 
themselves,  especially  the  very  heavy-coated  ones,  which 
in  hot  weather  may  become  heated  and  restless ;  and  these 
must  have  "  stockings  "  for  the  hind  feet.  The  thumb  of 
an  old  glove  will  fill  the  bill.  Put  the  foot  into  this  and 
tie  with  a  piece  of  narrow  tape  around  the  leg. 

Let  the  dog  run  about  in  the  room,  provided  you  can 
watch  him,  for  an  hour  or  so.  Then  draw  the  brush  over 
him  a  few  times  and  "  cage  "  him.  But  do  not  oblige  him 
to  lie  on  plush  or  velvet  cushions,  for  they  are  far  from 
suitable.  A  linen  cover  is  the  proper  thing  for  a  cushion, 
for  it  cannot  stain  nor  does  the  coat  adhere  to  it.  And 
such  a  cover  should  be  so  made  that  it  can  be  taken  off  and 
washed. 


CHAPTER   IV. 

TO    AND    FROM    THE    SHOW. 

Beginners,  and  in  fact  some  old  exhibitors,  must  be  re- 
minded that  when  dogs  are  to  make  railroad  journeys 
they  should  be  provided  with  comfortable  crates  or  boxes 
large  enough  to  permit  them  to  stand  and  turn  about  with 
ease ;  also,  that  the  same  should  be  so  constructed  that  air 
will  be  freely  admitted  on  all  sides  and  at  the  top,  for 
otherwise  they  would  be  in  danger  of  suffocation  were  the 
freight  packed  very  closely,  as  it  almost  always  is  in  ex- 
press cars.  But  this  accident  is  never  likely  to  happen 
where  the  top  of  the  crate  is  round  or  has  a  double  incline, 
—  like  the  roof  of  a  house,  —  and  if  the  latter,  which  is 
of  the  easiest  construction,  it  should  be  made  of  slats  or 
narrow  strips  of  board,  and  around  the  uppermost  one,  in 
the  middle  of  it,  the  tenant's  chain  should  be  looped  and 
fastened  so  that  he  will  not  likely  become  entangled; 
while  the  upper  slats  on  the  sides  should  project  four  or 
five  inches  at  the  ends  to  serve  as  handles. 

All  crates  should,  of  course,  be  as  light  as  possible  con- 
sistent with  strength  and  durability.  They  should  be 
boarded  to  a  height  which  accords  with  the  size  of  the 

177 


173  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

dogs  for  which  they  are  made  ;  and  the  tops  of  the  boards 
should  be  several  inches  above  the  uppermost  part  of  the 
tenants'  backs  when  they  are  lying  down,  so  that  they 
may  rest  without  draughts  or  the  cold  wind  blowing  on 
them. 

Either  slats  or  wire  netting  can  be  put  on  above  the 
boarding,  but  if  the  latter  it  should  be  of  heavy  wire,  for 
the  so-called  chicken  fence  is  much  too  fine,  and  the  small 
wires  breaking  easily  are  a  menace  to  the  dog. 

There  must  be  a  hole  in  the  baseboards  to  admit  the 
drinking-pan ;  and  since  express  messengers  very  gener- 
ally stow  crates  crosswise  the  cars,  with  the  door  ends 
facing  inward,  —  while  along  their  sides  they  closely  pack 
cases,  etc.,  —  and  many  of  these  men  will  not  open  the 
doors  for  fear  of  being  bitten,  it  is  advisable  to  cut  this 
hole  under  the  door. 

There  should  be  destination  cards  tacked  on  both  sides 
and  over  the  door  of  the  crate,  together  with  the  injunction 
"  Water  often ;  "  and  to  the  door  end  should  be  attached 
the  drinking-pan.  Here,  also,  should  be  hung  a  small  bag 
of  dog  cakes  if  the  dog  has  a  long  journey  before  him,  but 
none  will  be  required  if  it  is  a  short  one ;  in  fact  a  mature 
dog  that  will  reach  his  destination  within  forty-eight  hours 
should  not  be  given  food  while  on  the  train. 

Nor  should  he  enter  upon  his  journey  with  a  full 
stomach,  for  were  he  to  do  so  the  excitement  would  retard 
digestion,  and  the  retained  foods,  decomposing,  would  be 
extremely  liable  to  cause  colic,  diarrhoea  and  possibly 
death.  Consequently  the  rule  should  be  to  feed  four  or 
five  hours  previous  to  the  time  of  starting,  and  give  the 
dog  a  little  gentle  exercise  just  before  he  leaves,  to  favor 
his  emptying  himself.  And  when  the  journey  can  be 
made  within  the  period  stated,  cards  bearing  "  Do  not  feed 
this  dog "  should  be  tacked  about  the  crate  that  the  in- 
junction may  not  be  out  of  sight. 


TO  AND  FROM   THE   SHOW.  179 

To  send  a  dog  unattended  to  a  show  and  intrust  him 
wholly  to  the  caretakers  provided  by  the  management  is 
generally  safe  if  he  is  of  fairly  large  variety.  Still,  when 
possible  some  one  should  be  employed  to  receive  him, 
look  after  him  and  his  interests  while  on  the  bench  and 
finally  see  him  safely  on  his  way  home. 

But  while  to  journey  alone  might  not  be  hazardous  for 
most  varieties,  toy  dogs,  and  especially  Yorkshires,  are 
distinct  exceptions.  The  latter  if  good-coated  specimens 
could  not  safely  be  sent  on  long  journeys  unless  in  the 
care  of  an  attendant,  and  to  leave  them  to  the  tender 
mercies  of  show-keepers  would  be  equivalent  to  interrupt- 
ing their  show  career  for  a  long  time. 

Toy  dogs  require  proper  boxes,  not  crates,  and  if  sent 
even  a  short  distance  unattended  they  should  be  met  on 
arrival  by  some  friend  who  is  up  in  the  art  of  handling 
the  breed  and  who  will  bestow  the  necessary  attentions, 
etc.  ;  whereas  if  the  shows  are  a  long  way  off,  keep  them 
at  home  unless  some  one  can  accompany  them,  for  the 
risk  would  be  much  too  great,  and  especially  for  the  long- 
coated. 

It  ought  not  to  be  a  difficult  nor  expensive  matter  to  pro- 
vide a  special  caretaker  for  other  than  a  toy,  for  in  the 
absence  of  a  friendly  exhibitor  almost  any  one  of  the  large 
number  of  so-called  professional  handlers,  to  be  found  at 
all  important  shows,  and  whose  addresses  are  well  known 
to  managements,  would  for  a  few  dollars  take  charge  of  a 
dog  and  give  him  good  care.  And  at  least  one  of  the 
duties  which  he  would  assum.e  he  could  perform  more 
acceptably  than  the  inexperienced  owner  himself,  namely, 
that  of  preparing  the  dog  for  the  ring  and  handling  him 
while  in  it.  Being  up  in  all  the,  secrets  of  the  toilet  he 
would  have  him  at  his  best  by  the  time  his  class  was  called, 
and  when  before  the  judge  he  would  see  to  it  that  at  least 


l8o  KENNEL  SECRETS. 

his  good  points  were  duly  brought  out  and  no  unusual 
prominence  was  given  his  defects. 

But  in  choosing  such  a  caretaker  let  it  be  one  who  is 
to  handle  no  more  than  twelve  dogs,  for  he  could  scarcely 
do  full  justice  to  a  greater  number ;  and  had  he  several  in 
the  same  classes  he  would  quite  naturally  take  the  best 
one  into  the  ring  and  leave  the  others  to  show  attendants, 
who,  as  a  rule,  in  this  branch  of  the  service  are  scarcely 
better  than  hitching-posts,  having  no  interest  whatsoever 
in  the  dogs  which  they  are  parading  before  the  judges. 
And  as  several  classes  are  being  judged  at  the  same  time^ 
if  a  handler  has  many  dogs  there  might  be  one  or  more 
in  each  ring,  and  the  majority  of  them,  of  course,  beyond 
his  oversight. 

As  stated  near  the  beginning,  shows  themselves  are 
not  a  great  menace  to  dogs  but  they  are  made  so  to  many 
by  the  stupidity  of  their  owners  or  caretakers,  and  one 
of  the  most  glaring  faults  of  which  they  are  guilty  appears 
in  the  familiar  method  of  feeding. 

With  only  an  occasional  exception  dogs  do  not  eat  well 
while  on  the  bench,  especially  during  the  first  and  second 
days.  This  is  but  natural,  and  the  loss  of  appetite  would 
prove  salutary  were  its  significance  rightly  interpreted. 
A  journey  on  the  cars  is  extremely  tiresome  to  man  not- 
withstanding the  luxurious  provisions  for  his  comfort,  and, 
obviously,  dogs  shut  in  from  light  and  often  from  air,  in 
narrow  and  cramped  quarters,  must  generally  suffer  in- 
tensely. There  is,  moreover,  the  constant  and  deafening 
din,  which  keeps  them  excited  and  anxious,  and  precludes 
all  possibility  of  sleeping.  It  is  not  surprising,  therefore, 
that  after  a  journey,  even  although  it  has  not  extended 
beyond  a  day,  they  are  fagged  out,  nervous  and  excitable. 
Now  put  them  into  a  building  with  several  hundred  strange 
dogs,  no  small  proportion  of  which  are  constantly  yelping,. 


TO  AND  FROM   THE  SHOW.  l8l 

and  it  would  indeed  be  surprising  were  they  at  all  inclined 
to  eat. 

In  such  condition  rest,  not  food,  is  what  they  need ; 
moreover,  they  could  not  digest  much,  if  any,  food  were 
they  to  take  it,  for  their  digestive  organs  are  no  less 
weakened  by  the  hardships  that  they  have  experienced 
than  their  muscular  and  nervous  systems.  But  actual 
rest  is  out  of  the  question  at  first,  for  their  surroundings 
are  too  novel  and  bewildering ;  finally,  however,  they  be- 
come sufficiently  accustomed  to  them  to  sleep  soundly  for 
a  few  hours,  or  during  the  greater  part  of  a  night,  perhaps, 
and  are  themselves  again.  And  when  this  happy  state  of 
things  is  reached  —  but  not  before  —  they  are  ready  to 
eat. 

A  novice  that  is  likely  to  worry  and  fret  himself  to 
pieces  before  the  judging  ought  never  to  be  sent  away  unat- 
tended ;  and  if  his  owner  cannot  accompany  him  some  one 
with  whom  he  is  familiar  should  do  so.  Arriving  the  day 
before  the  show,  the  attendant  should  take  his  charge 
directly  to  his  hotel  and  keep  him  with  him  in  his  room 
or  in  the  stable  until  the  hour  has  come  for  benching. 

And  they  who  have  several  entries  would  do  well  to 
to  reach  their  destination  as  early  as  this,  and  instead  of 
taking  their  dogs  at  once  to  the  show  building,  find  stable 
room  for  them  and  keep  them  there  until  the  show  opens. 

In  all  instances  the  attendants  should  carry  with  them 
food  enough  for  at  least  one  round  —  something  that  the 
dogs  are  accustomed  to  at  home  —  and  then  be  sure  to 
tickle  their  palates  the  next  morning.  Having  now  had 
two  good  meals  before  the  judging  they  will  show  up 
in  decidedly  better  condition  than  they  could  on  empty 
stomachs,  which  most  dogs  have  for  twenty-four  or  forty- 
eight  hours  after  a  night  spent  in  the  cars  or  with  strangers 
of  their  kind. 


J  82  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

The  show  over  and  the  dog  is  being  made  ready  for  the 
return  journey,  the  same  injunctions  as  to  watering  and 
feeding  as  were  first  issued  should  be  put  upon  his  crate, 
to  which  also  should  be  attached  his  drinking-pan. 

At  home  once  more,  before  he  is  kennelled  he  should 
be  washed  thoroughly,  strong  carbolic  soap  being  used 
freely,  for  the  purpose  of  removing  from  his  jacket  and 
skin  all  disease  germs  that  may  have  found  lodgement 
thereon.  And  that  the  importance  of  this  procedure  may 
be  duly  appreciated  the  statement  is  made  that  were  the 
germs  of  distemper  present  and  had  the  dog  once  suffered 
from  that  disease  he  would  be  safe  from  them,  but  to  his 
mates  not  blessed  by  immunity,  and  especially  the  younger 
ones,  he  would  be  a  deadly  menace. 

But  let  exhibitors  take  this  precaution,  also  burn  the 
"bedding,  thoroughly  disinfect  the  crates,  chains,  collars, 
drinking-vessels,  etc.,  and  they  need  have  no  fear  of  dis- 
temper being  sent  to  their  kennels  from  shows,  unless,  of 
course,  it  is  within  the  bodies  of  the  returning  visitors, 
and  of  that,  as  already  stated,  there  is  but  little  danger 
where  managements  are  alive  to  their  duty. 

The  washing  over,  a  little  light  food,  as  milk,  should 
be  given,  and  for  several  days  afterward  the  rule  should  be 
to  feed  sparingly  on  simple  and  easily  digestible  foods. 

It  is  the  custom  of  many  to  give,  soon  after  the  return, 
castor  oil  and  syrup  of  buckthorn,  in  equal  parts,  and  in 
doses  of  the  same  size  as  would  be  appropriate  were  castor 
oil  alone  used.  To  this  there  can  be  no  valid  objection, 
for  it  is  likely  to  do  good,  and  certainly  it  can  do  no  harm 
even  if  not  demanded. 

Other  internal  medication  than  this  will  seldom  be  re- 
quired from  "  start  to  finish,"  and  assuredly  never  with 
fairly  healthy  dogs,  notwithstanding  the  notion  enter- 
tained by  not  a  few  exhibitors  that  they  ought  to  give  a 


Tin:    «>rOOTlI-rOATKT»    <OI.I.IE.    ••int'IiMKRE. 


Tin:  <  oi.i>ii:.  ••  <  iikv«>>omti:.' 


TO  AND  FROM   THE   SHOW.  1 83 

little  quinine  or  something  of  the  sort  as  a  "  bracer,"  pepsin 
to  assist  digestion,  and  perhaps  the  bromide  of  potassium 
to  subdue  nervousness. 

All  such  medicines  should  be  left  at  home,  for  were  a 
dog  really  ill  while  at  a  show  a  veterinary  skilled  in  canine 
diseases  should  be  called  in  to  attend  him.  But  there  is 
one  preparation  for  external  use  which  some  exhibitors 
would  do  well  to  take  with  them,  and  that  is  a  mixture  of 
Canada  balsam  and  carbolic  acid,  in  equal  parts. 

Oftentimes  dogs,  and  especially  the  long-coated,  leave 
home  in  good  condition,  with  skin  smooth  and  healthy, 
and  after  being  on  the  bench  a  few  days  an  eruption  at- 
tended with  intense  itching  breaks  out  on  them.  At  this 
they  bite  and  scratch  until  the  affected  spot  is  "raw,"  and 
unless  treatment  is  promptly  applied  the  hair  is  very  sure 
to  fall  out  and  leave  the  victims  disfigured  for  several 
months. 

Half  an  ounce  of  the  mixture  in  question  will  be  an  ad- 
mirable provision  against  this  accident  ;  and  although  this 
quantity  could  scarcely  be  used  in  a  year's  time  in  a  large 
kennel,  it  costs  no  more  than  a  smaller  quantity ;  moreover, 
it  is  a  valuable  remedy  to  have  at  hand  at  home  as  well  as 
abroad. 

He  who  has  it  prepared  should  tell  his  druggist  to  use 
pure  carbolic  acid  —  the  crystals  merely  liquefied  by  heat 
—  and  put  the  mixture  into  a  bottle  that  has  a  wide  neck. 

Now,  if  a  dog  is  seen  biting  or  scratching  himself  let 
the  spot  be  examined,  and  if  it  is  found  inflamed  —  of 
a  deep  red  color — take  this  bottle  of  Canada  balsam  and 
carbolic  acid,  invert  it  while  the  cork  is  in  place,  remove 
the  cork,  and  sweeping  the  hair  well  back,  gently  rub  the 
small  end  over  the  affected  surface,  being  careful  to  limit 
the  application  to  the  skin  and  touch  no  more  of  the 
hair  than  is  absolutely  necessary. 


1 84  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

The  minute  quantity  of  the  mixture  which  adheres  to 
the  cork  after  the  bottle  has  been  inverted  will  be  amply- 
sufficient  for  an  application  to  an  inflamed  spot  no  larger 
than  a  half-dollar  piece,  and  as  soon  as  it  is  made  the  red- 
ness will  largely  disappear,  and  the  surface  exhibit  a  thin 
white  coating. 

All  that  remains  is  to  dust  over  it  a  little  powder,  lay  the 
hair  down,  and  pass  a  brush  over  it  with  gentle  pressure 
once  or  twice.  The  chances  are  many  that  if  the  applica- 
tion has  reached  all  of  the  affected  part  the  dog  will  not 
touch  it  again,  the  itching  being  entirely  overcome  by  the 
carbolic  acid,  which  paralyzed  the  cutaneous  nerves. 

As  to  the  kind  of  powder  to  use.  Manifestly  it  would 
not  be  necessary  to  call  attention  to  the  fact  that  the  dog 
had  an  eczematous  spot  by  using  white  powder  on  him  if 
he  had  a  black  coat,  when  powdered  charcoal  would  answer 
every  purpose.  Therefore,  let  this  be  used  if  the  coat  is 
very  dark.  Fuller's  earth  will  do  for  brownish  coats, 
powdered  sulphur  for  yellowish  or  grayish  coats,  and  the 
subnitrate  of  bismuth  for  white  coats. 

The  hair  at  its  lowest  parts  will  be  glued  down  by  the 
mixture,  but  it  must  not  be  disturbed  for  a  week ;  at  the 
end  of  which  period  a  cure  will  generally  have  been  ef- 
fected, and  the  hair  can  be  restored  by  brushing  after  the 
mat  has  been  well  softened  with  water. 

Of  course  if  one  application  does  not  suffice  a  second 
should  be  made. 

With  this  remedy  at  hand  a  dog  can  often  be  kept  up 
through  a  season,  whereas  without  it  the  loss  of  hair  might 
soon  make  his  removal  from  the  bench  imperative. 


CHAPTER   V. 


ON    THE    BENCH, 


Once  dogs  are  on  the  bench  they  should  be  fed  sparingly 
until  they  are  back  to  their  kennels,  one  meal  every  twenty- 
four  hours  being  the  rule  with  all  excepting  toys  ;  and  this 
should  be  made  up  of  the  most  digestible  foods. 

Those  that  are  unaccustomed  to  dog  cakes  or  biscuits, 
the  food  generally  provided  at  shows,  seldom  take  kindly 
to  them  while  their  appetites  are  none  the  sharpest;  and 
they  being  declined  it  wnll  of  course  be  necessary  for  the 
caretakers  to  provide  other  food.  And  really  he  is  wisest 
in  this  matter  who  relies  solely  upon  himself  and  obtains 
at  his  hotel  or  markets  the  foods  for  which  his  dog  has 
a  decided  preference,  and  feeds  and  waters  him  with  his 
own  hands. 

Were  a  dog  "  off  his  feed  "  while  at  a  show  it  should  not 
occasion  uneasiness.  Declining  milk  or  broth  the  first 
day,  he  should  fast  until  the  second ;  and  milk  again  re- 
jected, he  should  be  offered  a  little  finely  minced  raw  beef 
or  mutton.  This  in  turn  declined,  another  day  of  fasting 
should  follow,  and  the  same  tempting  food  be  put  before 

him. 

i8s 


l86  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

Some  dogs  will  not  touch  food  at  any  time  during  a 
show  owing  to  the  presence  of  bitches  in  "season  "  ;  as  a 
rule,  however,  the  appetite  manifests  a  disposition  to  return 
by  the  third  day,  especially  if  coaxed  a  bit  as  advised.  But 
one  should  never  go  very  far  to  bring  it  back. 

Writers  have  thought  that  danger  lurked  in  feeding-  and 
drinking-pans  at  shows  ;  and  it  certainly  would  were  they 
used  indiscriminately,  but  as  a  rule  one  pan  does  double 
duty,  and  each  remains  constantly  in  the  stall  in  which  it 
was  first  placed.  Were  this  not  the  case,  however,  but  the 
pans  gathered  up  and  taken  out  to  be  filled,  they  would 
need  to  be  carefully  washed,  not  with  cold,  nor  even  warm 
water  merely,  but  with  boiling  water,  for  in  no  other  way 
could  they  be  made  perfectly  safe.  And  where  this  treat- 
ment was  impossible  the  thoughtful  exhibitor  would  see 
that  the  pan  was  removed  only  by  himself  or  his  repre- 
sentative. 

A  word  here  as  to  the  drinking  water  at  shows.  All 
know  that  man  frequently  suffers  from  diarrhoea  in  conse- 
quence of  radical  changes  of  his  drinking  water  ;  and  the 
same  may  be  due  to  the  impurities  or  to  great  variations 
in  the  salts  which  are  normal  ingredients.  Dogs  are  less 
susceptible  to  these  changes  than  he,  yet  the  indications 
are  that  they  are  sometimes  affected  by  them.  But  the 
only  means  by  which  the  most  of  their  ill  effects  can  be 
obviated  is  boiling ;  and  that  is  not  likely  to  be  resorted 
to  except  by  the  ideal  management. 

Considering  one  of  the  most  inveterate  habits  of  the 
canine  race,  the  droppings  in  the  ring  where  dogs  are 
taken  for  judgment  and  exercise  must  be  more  or  less  of 
a  menace,  for  were  a  victim  of  an  infectious  disease  to  pass 
the  veterinary  and  be  admitted  to  a  show  he  would  likely 
deposit  about,  in  these  his  intestinal  discharges,  the 
specific  germs,  which,  in  turn,  would  be  taken  up  by  other 


ON   THE   BEXCH.  1 87 

dogs  that  snuffed  at  them.  It  follows,  therefore,  that  in 
every  ring  there  should  constantly  be  an  attendant  pro- 
vided with  a  disinfectant,  also  a  shovel  and  waste-basket ; 
and  the  sawdust  soiled  by  even  one  dog  should  be  dis- 
infected and  removed.  And  in  the  absence  of  this  precau- 
tion exhibitors  will  do  well  to  walk  their  dogs  around  the 
benches —  not  in  the  ring. 

But  better  still,  instead  of  exercising  dogs  in  the  build- 
ing, let  them  be  taken  out  in  the  early  morning  and  walked 
about  the  streets,  or  to  the  nearest  park  or  vacant  lot  and 
given  an  opportunity  to  "limber  up"  their  aching  and 
stiffened  muscles.  Convenient  arrangements  for  doing 
this  could  be  made  with  the  managements  of  many,  if  not 
all,  shows,  or  should  any  decline  it  would  be  necessary 
merely  to  deposit  a  small  sum  as  a  guaranty  that  the  dogs 
would  be  back  to  their  stalls  at  the  hour  the  show  opened 
to  the  public. 

Positively  of  all  precautions  which  are  essential  to  the 
maintenance  of  health  and  good  condition  of  show  dogs 
there  are  none  more  important  than  this  ;  hence  it  is  urged 
that  the  little  ones  be  given  scampers,  the  large  and  heavy 
ones  long  strolls,  and  the  light-footed  good,  sharp  runs. 
And  the  knowing  one  who  has  a  kennel  of  greyhounds, 
for  instance,  by  which  he  is  striving  to  deal  righteously, 
will  give  them  five  miles  before  breakfast,  or  obtain  a  horse 
and  take  them  for  a  spin  of  ten  miles.  And  by  doing 
this  and  attending  to  the  feeding  he  will  keep  his  dogs 
good  and  hard  for  many  weeks. 

In  a  word,  early  exercise,  and  as  much  as  can  be  given,  is 
one  of  the  first  essentials  for  show  dogs  while  on  the  circuit 
and  the  season  lasts. 

But  even  when  given  the  proper  amount  of  exercise,  dogs 
must  be  taken  from  the  bench  several  times  daily,  and  the 
last  thing  at  night,  for  otherwise  were  they  cleanly  in  their 


l88  KENNEL  SECRETS. 

habits  they  must  suffer  intensely,  and  more  than  one  dog 
has  reached  home  with  severe  inflammation  of  the  bladder 
in  consequence  of  being  neglected  in  this  respect. 

The  exhibitor  who  is  a  gentleman  will  conduct  himself 
as  such  before  the  judges,  and  this  is  about  all  that  need 
be  said  of  ring  etiquette.  But  a  few  hints  as  to  the  man- 
agement of  the  candidate  may  not  be  amiss. 

While  being  prepared  for  a  show  he  should  be  thoroughly 
accustomed  to  the  chain  and  encouraged  to  romp  while 
under  it,  so  that  its  associations  will  be  pleasant  and  as 
soon  as  it  is  in  the  hand  of  his  master  or  caretaker  he  will 
be  full  of  excitement  and  delightful  anticipation.  This 
course  pursued  and  he  taught  to  keep  still  at  command, 
he  will  be  sure  to  be  alert  in  the  ring  and  stand  before 
the  judge  with  head  up,  eyes  bright  and  shining  with 
eagerness,  tail  properly  carried,  and  feet  and  legs  straight 
and  well  under  him.  In  fact  he  will  appear  with  all  his 
lines  well  drawn,  and  be  sure  to  win  over  his  equal  which 
shows  up  sulky,  spiritless  and  crouching. 

As  for  position  in  the  ring,  it  is  of  no  importance  before 
a  judge  that  is  competent,  for  he  will  never  overlook  a 
good  dog. 

It  is  well  to  advert  here  to  the  idea  so  prevalent  among 
the  inexperienced  —  and  not  without  believers  among 
exhibitors  —  that  judges  are  often  swayed  by  the  owners 
of  dogs  ;  or,  in  other  words,  that  the  dog  of  a  well-known 
exhibitor  has  greater  chances  of  winning  than  his  equal, 
or  even  superior,  whose  owner  is  a  comparative  stranger. 

It  is  a  deplorable  fact  that  there  is  a  foundation  for  this 
belief,  for  in  many  instances  judges  who  lacked  confidence 
in  their  ability  to  select  rightly  have  gone  to  the  wrong 
end  of  the  chain  as  the  best  way  out  of  difficulty.  But 
this  is  not  done  with  dishonest  intent.  On  the  contrary, 
the  judge  may  feel  that  he  can  come  nearer  justice  bygiv- 


ON  THE  BENCH.  189 

ing  the  ribbon  to  some  well-known  exhibitor  who  always 
has  good  ones,  than  by  following  his  own  fancy,  which  he 
realizes  might  be  for  a  bad  one. 

Perhaps  relatively  fewer  cases  of  this  are  occurring  now 
than  in  the  past,  yet  it  is  plainly  evident  that  there  is 
still  great  chance  for  improvement,  and  the  sooner  show 
managements  realize  this  the  better  for  them  and  for  the 
dog,  whose  improvements  should  be  paramount  to  self- 
interest.  Clearly  a  man  who  has  not  had  the  experience 
to  warrant  him  in  undertaking  the  task  of  judging  should 
not  accept  the  position.  Manifestly,  also,  the  exhibitor 
who  spends  time  and  money  in  getting  a  good  kennel 
together  has  a  right  to  expect  that  his  dogs  will  be  judged 
by  a  competent  person.  And,  for  obvious  reasons,  the 
man  who  has  inferior  dogs  desires  inferior  judges  ;  while 
the  better  the  judges  the  smaller  the  chances  of  a  poor 
specimen  getting  to  the  front. 

All  this  is  evidently  duly  appreciated  by  exhibitors  who 
should  rightly  be  the  most  influential,  for  there  is  a  rapidly 
growing  disposition  on  their  part  to  have  their  dogs 
placed  under  qualified  men  only,  they  appreciating  fully 
that  the  incompetent  judges  make  improvement  well-nigh 
impossible. 

Such  being  the  disposition  of  exhibitors  to-day,  and  since 
the  remedy  lies  largely  with  them,  the  fault  of  incompe- 
tency in  judges  must  dissipate  steadily  and  rapidly  ;  and 
it  is  scarcely  necessary  to  add  that  it  is  the  bounden  duty 
of  all  having  interest  in  the  matter  to  hasten  its  decline. 

Before  leaving  exhibitors  there  is  yet  an  important  point 
to  be  touched  upon.  Beyond  dispute  one  of  the  most 
potent  causes  of  the  great  mortality  among  puppies  is  an 
inherent  weakness  transmitted  from  either  the  sire  or 
dam  —  and  most  often  the  former,  in  the  selection  of 
which  long  pedigrees  and   prize-winning   records   are  so 


190  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

generally  deemed  the  first  essentials.  The  questions 
naturally  suggest  themselves,  Are  not  successes  on  the 
bench  often  much  too  dearly  bought  ?  and  are  not  frequent 
exhibitions  prejudicial  to  the  health  of  the  animals  shown  ? 
Do  they  not  lessen  their  value  as  breeders  ? 

To  the  large  non-sporting  dogs  of  both  sexes  there  is 
certainly  danger  if  they  appear  often  or  are  kept  long 
on  the  bench,  for  as  a  matter  of  fact  many  of  the  most 
noted  prize-winners  among  them  are  comparatively  worth- 
less for  breeding  purposes.  Upon  these  varieties  the 
hardships  of  shows  and  journeys  in  the  cars  seem  to  tell 
the  most  sorely  ;  moreover,  it  is  not  only  not  easy  to 
keep  them  in  condition,  but  extremely  difficult  to  bring 
them  back  after  they  have  much  fallen  off. 

But  one  of  the  reasons  why  shows  prove  so  injurious 
to  these  varieties  appears  in  the  common  method  of  con- 
ditioning by  means  of  drugs.  Such  methods,  perhaps, 
prove  satisfactory  with  most  dogs  for  about  a  year  — 
possibly  a  little  longer  —  and  they  show  up  in  good  form. 
Sooner  or  later,  however,  the  fact  dawns  upon  their  owners 
that  to  put  flesh  on  them  is  more  difficult  than  it  once 
was,  and  thereafter  "treatment"  is  begun  earlier  in  the 
season,  and  much  larger  doses  of  medicine  are  given. 
But  at  last  there  comes  a  time  when  nature  rebels  or  is 
no  longer  able  to  respond.  Overfeeding  first  weakened 
the  digestive  system  ;  soon  it  became  disordered  or  dis- 
eased ;  and  with  these  changes  every  important  organ 
declined  in  power.  Then  nutrition  suffered  and  the  blood 
became  rapidly  impoverished  ;  and  this  point  once  reached 
the  evidences  of  decay  are  too  plain  to  be  mistaken. 

The  poor  dogs'  winning  days  over  they  are  retired  from 
the  bench,  but  not  from  the  stud,  for  which  they  are  now 
well-nigh  worthless.  From  the  day  that  the  cramming 
system  commenced  their  value  lessened  steadily,  and  long 


ON  THE  BENCH.  191 

before  their  retirement  they  were  absolutely  unfit  for 
breeding  purposes,  because  of  constitutional  impairment 
—  the  inevitable  concomitant  of  this  fatal  conditioning 
process. 

Doubtless  there  are  breeds  of  dogs  which  suffer  less 
from  it  than  others  ;  some  may  even  escape  injury  and 
remain  on  the  bench  for  many  years,  but  for  large  breeds 
there  is  no  immunity  —  sooner  or  later  the  penalty  must 
be  enforced.  No  one  well  informed  will  attempt  to  under- 
estimate the  value  of  prize-winning  records.  The  public 
generally  recognize  the  fact  that  if  a  breeder  has  dogs 
which  he  honestly  believes  can  win  at  shows  he  will  not 
hesitate  to  exhibit  them  ;  therefore,  would-be  purchasers 
rightly  seek  the  kennels  of  the  most  successful  exhibitors, 
and  the  latter  try  to  retain  their  prestige,  but  in  doing  so 
often  ruin  their  dogs. 

The  moral  of  this  is  :  Remove  a  dog  from  the  bench, 
"  for  good  and  all,"  on  appearance  of  the  first  signs  which 
seem  to  indicate  that  his  constitution  is  being  undermined. 
Show  the  largest  only  at  fairly  long  intervals — never  for 
several  consecutive  weeks  —  and  retire  them  permanently 
within  two  years. 

There  remain  to  be  considered  a  few  requirements 
which  should  be  invariably  met  by  show  managements. 
And  the  first  to  suggest  itself  is,  that  the  movable  benches 
be  thoroughly  disinfected  after  every  show.  This  is 
absolutely  the  most  effective  means  of  prevention  of  con- 
tagion, and  those  in  authority  who  fail  to  provide  it,  mildly 
speaking,  are  deserving  the  contempt  of  every  lover  of  the 
dog. 

To  make  ample  provisions  against  fire  is  another  impor- 
tant requirement.  There  have  been  but  few  instances, 
and  possibly  no  more  than  one,  where  fires  have  broken 
out  in  dog  shows  and  destroyed  life,  but  the  horrors  of 


192  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

that  one  are  fresh  in  the  minds  of  exhibitors,  and  they, 
at  least,  will  appreciate  the  necessity  of  every  precaution 
against  like  accident. 

In  all  places  in  which  shows  are  held  there  are  many 
"  call  firemen  "  or  what  are  commonly  termed  "  subs,"  and 
as  goodly  a  number  of  them  as  possible  should  be  among 
the  helpers,  and  always  a  part  of  the  night-force.  Know- 
ing the  special  purpose  for  which  they  are  hired  they  will 
of  course  locate  the  hydrants,  see  that  all  the  hose  is 
conveniently  placed,  the  fire  buckets  kept  filled,  etc. 

Man  never  values  nearly  as  highly  as  he  ought  his  eye- 
sight or  his  hearing  until  he  has  met  with  a  loss ;  so,  also, 
is  he  reluctant  to  provide  against  fire  before  he  has  been 
burned  out  or  fiercely  threatened ;  consequently  some 
managements  may  think  this  precaution  unnecessary,  but 
many  exhibitors  will  differ  widely  from  them,  and  if  they 
desire  protection  for  their  dogs  they  have  only  to  insist 
upon  it  and  it  must  be  furnished. 

Rails  in  front  of  the  benches  are  by  no  means  a  familiar 
sight,  yet  they  should  invariably  stand  before  all  large 
dogs  at  least.  Dogs,  like  members  of  the  highest  order 
of  animals,  are  occasionally  erratic,  and  some  that  are 
truly  lamb-like  in  the  kennels  are  very  fractious  while  on 
the  bench.  Considering  that  harm  might  be  done,  also 
that  visitors  themselves  must  feel  safer  where  this  precau- 
tion is  taken,  it  would  seem  as  though  bench  show  man- 
agements ought  not  to  require  much  urging  to  put  up 
rails, — about  two  feet  from  the  stalls  —  and  certainly 
none  will  object  who  have  once  stood  defendants  in  a 
suit  for  damages  for  a  dog-bite. 

Cards  printed  in  large  type  and  bearing  the  words  "  Do 
not  handle  Strange  Dogs  "  should  appear  at  every  hand 
in  all  buildings,  to  remind  visitors,  many  of  whom  seem 
to  forget  the  fact,  that  dogs  can  bite. 


ON   THE  BENCH.  195 

Quite  a  common  error  at  shows  is  rxiuch  too  high 
benches  for  the  largest  dogs.  These  when  loaded  down 
with  fat  or  well  along  with  pup  are  about  as  capable  of 
jumping  as  a  man  carrying  an  anvil,  consequently  in 
getting  in  and  out  of  high  stalls  they  are  much  strained 
in  the  back  and  possibly  otherwise  injured. 

Most  people  when  they  have  diphtheria  or  other  infec- 
tious disease  in  their  homes  hang  about  the  sick-room 
cloths  wet  with  carbolic  acid,  or  place  here  and  there 
saucers  filled  with  the  chloride  of  lime,  thinking  that 
thereby  they  kill  the  germs  of  disease  floating  in  the 
air.  As  a  matter  of  fact  these  agents  so  used  have  no 
action  whatsoever  upon  disease  germs,  and  simply  render 
the  air  still  more  impure. 

So  it  is  with  many  of  the  disinfectants  used  at  shows  ; 
they  give  off  a  pungent  odor,  but  affect  disease  germs  no 
more  than  a  blank  cartridge  would  a  grizzly.  These  so- 
called  disinfectants,  however,  are  not  objectionable  solely 
because  they  are  worthless  for  the  purpose  for  which  they 
are  sold;  they  are  really  injurious  to  dogs  as  well  as  man 
when  used  freely  as  at  shows,  for  some  of  their  elements 
rise  and  float  in  the  air  and  render  it  highly  irritating  — a 
fact  of  which  no  old  exhibitor  needs  to  be  assured,  for  he 
has  suffered  too  often  from  stuffiness  of  the  nose,  dryness 
of  the  throat  and  other  evidences  of  inflammation  of  the 
air-passages,  while  in  dogs  their  ill  effects  have  been  mani- 
fested by  hoarseness  and  bloodshot  eyes. 

Economy  as  well  as  utility  considered,  it  seems  as 
though  show  managements  would  do  well  to  prepare 
their  own  deodorizer  and  disinfectant.  And  as  good  an 
ao-ent  as  any  is  the  permanganate  of  potassium,  two> 
pounds  of  which  added  to  water  will  make  thirty  gallons 
of  as  efficient  disinfectant  —  safety  considered — as  can 
be  obtained  anywhere  ;   although,  by  the  way,  manufac- 


194 


KENNEL   SECRETS. 


turers  of  patented  preparations  will  stoutly  assert  to  the 
contrary.  This  solution  is  odorless  and  therefore  a  vast 
improvement  on  many  of  the  reputed  disinfectants,  no 
small  number  of  which  are  absolutely  valueless  as  such, 
merely  substituting  as  they  do  one  odor  for  another. 

And  since  the  fine  particles  of  wood  that  arise  from  the 
rings  cause  much  irritation  of  the  air-passages,  authorities 
are  wise,  and  spare  both  dog  and  man  much  discomfort, 
who  see  to  it  that  the  sawdust  is  slightly  dampened  with 
this  solution. 


PART    III. 


BREEDING, 


CHAPTER   I. 

SELECTION    OF    SIRE. 

It  would  seem  from  the  practice  of  the  infinite  majority 
of  breeders  that  they,  in  the  beginning,  accepted  as  a  fixed 
fact  that  "  like  produces  like  "  with  positive  certainty,  and 
satisfied  that  in  this  familiar  aphorism  was  comprised  the 
one  and  only  essential  principle,  in  the  application  of 
which  none  could  stray,  they  were  quite  content  and  had 
no  desire  to  go  farther  into  the  subject.  It  is  not  surpris- 
ing, therefore,  that  but  few  have  succeeded  while  many 
have  failed,  and  that  a  large  proportion  of  the  best  dogs 
have  been  what  might  without  impropriety  be  called  acci- 
dental creations. 

Some  breeders  consider  pedigree  of  first  importance 
and  mate  accordingly,  practically  ignoring  the  question 
of  suitability,  also  the  fact  that  with  good  pedigrees  on 
both  sides  the  puppies  are  often  very  poor  specimens. 
And  these  rely  mainly  on  reversion  ;  or  in  other  words 
they  confidently  expect  that  even  if  the  dogs  chosen  are 
not  themselves  all  that  is  desirable  they  will  yet  be  sure 
to  "throw  back,"  and  that  their  offspring  will  resemble 
ancestors,  more  or  less  remote,  which  were  good. 

197 


198  KENNEL  SECRETS. 

Other  breeders  believe  that  success  at  shows  is  a  guar- 
anty of  all  the  most  desirable  qualities,  therefore  they 
invariably  seek  sires  among  prize-winners,  without  thought 
of  fitness  or  questioning  whether  they  won  in  good  com- 
pany or  under  competent  judges.  And  with  them  there 
are  but  two  accepted  laws  in  breeding,  namely,  "like 
produces  like  "  and  "  breed  always  from  the  best  "  —  the 
^'best"  being  those  of  visible  merits  without  considera- 
tions as  to  the  qualities  of  the  ancestors  or  conformity  of 
the  individuals  selected  to  the  same  general  types  of  their 

families. 

Members  of  both  classes  are  occasionally  successful, 
yet  when  so  they  scarcely  deserve  credit,  for  they  have  no 
ideals  nor  real  systems,  and  always  follow,  never  lead. 

Of  course  their  expectations  have  foundations,  for  it  is 
evidently  a  law  of  animal  organism  that  the  offspring  shall 
inherit  characters  of  parents,  but  this  does  not  mean  that 
they  shall  inherit  all  the  characters,  nor  even  one  or  more 
of  the  most  desirable,  for  there  are  other  laws  the  influ- 
ence of  which  may  be  predominant  and  for  the  time  being 
at  least  obscure  this  hereditary  tendency.  Again,  while 
the  offspring  may  be  said  very  generally  to  resemble  the 
parents  the  resemblance  is  not,  as  so  many  assume,  con- 
fined to  the  outward  form  and  visible  characters,  but  as 
often,  doubtless,  manifests  itself  beneath  the  surface,  and 
without  evidence  except  such  as  appears  in  psychical 
qualities. 

"  Breed  to  the  best  "  is  of  course  a  golden  rule,  pro- 
vided it  is  rendered  rightly — that  is,  the  selection  is  con- 
sistent and  the  breeder  is  influenced  not  alone  by  obvious 
excellence  of  the  individual  but  by  the  family  history  as 
well.  In  other  words,  he  has  a  proper  conception  of  it 
who  looks  for  a  combination  of  qualities  when  seeking  a 
sire,  and  considers  not  merely  the  dog  himself  and  his 


SELECTION  OF  SIRE.  199' 

dominant  characters  but  the  characters  of  his  family,  the 
constancy  with  which  good  qualities  have  been  trans- 
mitted, whether  the  existing  perfections  will  compensate 
for  ancestral  defects,  etc. 

He  who  would  improve  his  dogs  by  developing  their 
most  valuable  qualities  and  fortifying  them  with  others,, 
and  so  give  evidence  that  he  is  something  more  than  a 
breeder  in  name  merely,  must  have  a  conception  of  the 
qualities  that  constitute  perfection  —  an  idea  of  what  he 
wishes  to  create,  the  ideal  form  he  would  mould.  He 
must  also  be  able  to  detect  slight  variations  in  form  and 
qualities  within  ;  moreover,  have  a  knowledge  of  the  funda- 
mental laws  of  animal  organization,  and  especially  those 
that  relate  to  inheritance. 

With  these  and  good  judgment  and  perseverance  he 
can  feel  confident  of  success.  But  their  acquirement 
means  systematic  observation  and  an  abundant  material 
for  study,  consequently  it  is  scarcely  surprising  that  there 
are  so  few  real  breeders. 

The  one  who  possesses  these  eminent  qualifications 
seeks  the  dog  that  is  most  likely  to  correct  the  faults  of 
his  bitch  and  at  the  same  time  preserve  her  good  qualities^ 
in  the  offspring.  But  he  does  not  follow  the  custom- 
which  seems  so  prevalent  among  breeders  and  choose- 
always  a  dog  that  is  strong  where  his  bitch  is  weak.  For 
instance,  if  the  average  breeder  has  a  bitch  whose  muzzle 
is  too  long  his  choice  is  a  dog  with  a  good  muzzle  ;  or 
'if  she  is  "leggy"  he  seeks  a  stocky  dog  with  plenty  of 
bone  and  muscle.  Again,  if  breeding  for  color  and  his 
bitch  is  rather  light,  he  chooses  a  dog  that  is  inclined  to 
be  dark.  And  in  all  his  selections  he  considers  merely 
individual  excellence  ;  with  the  result  that  only  compara- 
tively rarely  does  he  breed  puppies  nearly  as  good  as  their 
parents. 


200  KEISFNEL   SECRETS. 

But  the  knowing  breeder  does  not  pursue  this  course, 
tor  he  goes  back  of  the  individuals  and  is  influenced  by 
the  characters  of  their  families  ;  and  while  he  prefers  a 
dog  that  is  not  only  good  himself  but  came  of  stock  that 
was  invariably  good,  he  values  family  excellence  above 
that  of  the  individual.  In  other  words,  if  his  bitch  has 
too  long  a  muzzle,  his  choice  is  a  dog  that  comes  from  a 
family  that  were  good  in  muzzle,  rather  than  a  dog  which 
exhibits  this  quality  but  is  of  a  family  that  were  poor  in 
muzzle. 

He  also  appreciates  that  he  may  intensify  a  defect  by 
breeding  to  a  dog  that  is  good  where  his  bitch  is  bad. 
For  instance,  if  she  is  snipy  in  muzzle  and  of  a  family 
none  too  good  in  this  point,  and  he  finds  a  dog  that  is 
short  and  square  in  muzzle,  and  in  fact  very  good  in  all 
points  before  the  eyes,  he  does  not  jump  at  the  conclusion 
that  this  is  the  dog  for  him  to  breed  to.  No.  He  goes 
carefully  into  his  history,  and  if  he  learns  that  he  comes 
from  a  bitch  that  was  bad  in  muzzle  and  her  family  also 
had  the  same  fault,  while  his  sire  was  only  fair  in  muzzle 
and  of  a  family  that  were  not  noted  for  good  muzzles,  then 
he  regards  that  dog  as  an  "accident,"  and  considers  that 
were  he  to  breed  his  bitch  to  him  the  existing  defects 
would  likely  be  intensified.  Therefore,  he  seeks  a  dog 
that  is  known  to  transmit  to  or  mark  his  puppies  with 
good  muzzles,  and  from  parents  or  a  family  that  were 
noted  for  the  same  excellent  quality. 

Assuming  another  case,  and  this  time  of  a  bitch  with 
yellow  eyes.  Now  the  average  breeder  would  select  a 
dog  that  had  eyes  of  good  color,  without  considering  for 
a  moment  that  that  dog  may  be  an  "accident," — or,  in 
other  words,  from  a  yellow-eyed  family,  — but  he  who  has 
had  experience  and  profited  by  it  would  satisfy  himself 
on  this  point,  and  if  the  dog  came  from  such  a  family  he 
would  choose  one  from  a  family  good  in  eye. 


SELECTION  OF  SIRE.  20I 

That  there  may  be  no  mistaking  the  meaning  of  all  this 
still  another  case  is  assumed,  and  of  a  pointer  bitch  light 
in  head.  Her  owner,  an  intelligent  breeder,  instead  of 
choosing  as  a  sire  a  heavy-headed  dog  mates  her  to  one 
that  is  perhaps  a  little  on  the  light  side,  and  the  puppies 
come  right.  Why  did  he  do  this  1  He  knew  what  there 
was  in  his  bitch's  pedigree.  In  a  word,  he  knew  that  she 
was  closely  related  to  a  strong-headed  family,  and  that 
the  sire  he  had  selected  for  her  was  also  from  a  family 
that  were  good  in  head.  But  had  he  selected  a  short- 
faced  and  thick-headed  dog  of  a  short-faced  and  thick- 
headed family,  the  result  would  doubtless  have  been  far 
from  his  liking. 

The  obvious  conclusion  is,  that  in  selecting  a  sire  one 
must  not  only  be  familiar  with  the  available  dogs  them- 
selves but  have  a  good  knowledge  of  their  family  history ; 
moreover,  he  should  know  whether  or  not  their  offspring 
very  generally  resembled  them  or  some  of  their  ancestors. 
Some  sires  and  dams,  in  fact,  seem  to  have  but  little  indi- 
viduality, as  shown  by  their  inability  to  reproduce  them- 
selves. Two  inmates  of  the  writer's  kennels  plainly 
testified  to  this  fact.  Both  were  mastiffs  —  dog  and  bitch 
—  two  removes  from  "Crown  Prince,"  and  notwithstand- 
ing they  had  dense  black  muzzles,  no  matter  how  mated 
they  almost  invariably  "  threw  puppies  "  having  the  same 
peculiar  chocolate-colored  muzzle  of  their  noted  ancestor. 

Manifestly,  therefore,  a  good,  shapely  and  well-marked 
dog  may  prove  but  an  indifferent  stock-getter,  while,  on 
the  other  hand,  one  with  a  glaring  defect  —  as  bad  color 
of  muzzle,  size  of  ear,  expression  of  eye,  etc.  — may  turn 
out  admirably.  And  although  such  results,  good  or  bad, 
may  sometimes  be  purely  accidental,  as  a  rule,  to  which 
there  are  not  many  exceptions,  they  are  due  to  that  peculi- 
arity of  "throwing  back." 


202  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

Experience  has  shown  that  admirable  qualities  must 
exist  for  many  generations  in  order  to  render  their  per- 
petuation highly  probable.  For  instance,  if  a  dog  has  a 
grand  head  yet  his  sire  and  grand-sire  were  deficient  in 
this  quality,  then  the  chances  are  against  his  offspring 
being  endowed  like  himself  ;  and  especially  narrow  are 
they  if  their  dam  is  weak  in  head.  Were  she  so  and  only 
two  dogs  available,  one  with  a  grand  head  yet  of  small- 
headed  ancestors,  and  the  other  small-headed  but  of  a 
family  noted  for  good  heads  in  the  two  generations  before 
him,  her  owner  would  probably  have  the  best  results  from 
the  use  of  the  latter. 

Another  product  of  experience,  is  that  to  breed  out  some 
defects  is  much  more  difficult  than  others  ;  and  as  a  rule, 
the  resistance  is  in  proportion  to  their  duration  in  the 
family.  In  other  words,  a  fault  of  two  generations  is  much 
less  easily  eradicated  than  a  fault  of  but  one. 

Here  it  is  well  to  emphasize  the  fact  that  weak  points 
are  as  likely  to  be  transmitted  as  strong  ones;  also  that 
structural  defects,  as  deformities  of  limb  and  other  vices 
which  result  from  errors  in  management  during  the  grow- 
ing stage,  are  liable  to  be  passed  on.  And,  in  truth,  it  is 
oftentimes  so  difficult  to  breed  out  acquired  abnormal 
peculiarities  one  would  be  seldom  justified  in  choosing 
a  sire  that  had  any  such  that  were  very  serious. 

In  breeding  non-sporting  dogs  the  form  and  proportions 
are  the  main  objects  of  study,  and  efforts  are  generally 
centred  upon  their  improvement  alone,  but  with  dogs  to 
be  used  for  special  purposes,  as  in  the  field,  there  are  more 
characters  to  be  developed  and  therefore  a  greater  number 
of  difficulties  to  contend  with.  Consequently,  oftener  in 
this  line  than  in  the  other  breeders  meet  with  incompati- 
bles,  and  in  many  instances  they  must  fix  upon  a  few 
special  qualities,  endeavor  to  bring  them  to  a  high  degree 


!  be 

5    IC- 


I 


« 


'*  *»■"♦  f*i»  ir^^^ 

«<  C*  C-i  K^. 

'•^  t«  "i?  EtX 

kV  y*  »i*  fK-^ 


"■A 


fV 

n 


^     3^     W   tS: 

«►.    5:    w   FV 


P.^    ?s 


THK  tOIvI^IK,    ••WELLESBOIIKA'E   CHARLIE." 


OLD   E3fGt,ISH   SIIEKP  I>OGIS. 


SIR  cavk:vi»isii. 


'    iJu-  *  A  ^*>*<. 


"LADY  GRIZZLK."        "  LADY  CAVE]VI>ISH."        "  SIR  CAVEIVDISH." 


SELECTION  OF  SIRE.  203 

of  excellence,  and  in  the  mean  while  practically  neglect 
others.  And  in  doing  so  they  frequently  find  it  necessary 
to  take  risks  ;  that  is,  in  order  to  improve  one  quality  they 
are  often  obliged  to  put  another  in  jeopardy  ;  but  he  who 
is  wise  never  does  this  unless  the  gain  promises  to  be 
much  greater  than  the  loss. 

Setter  breeders  well  illustrate  this  principle  of  "  give 
and  take."  They  have  produced  in  what  is  known  in  this 
country  as  the  Llewellin  setter  great  speed  and  dash,  yet 
have  sacrificed  much  of  the  beautiful  setter  quality  that  is 
seen  in  the  Laveracks. 

But  in  breeding  for  the  field,  while  it  is  desirable  that 
both  sires  and  dams  be  well  broken,  to  base  selections 
purely  on  excellence  as  workers  is  clearly  wrong  if  real 
improvement  is  the  end  in  sight,  for,  manifestly,  there  is 
no  chance  for  form  if  one  breeds  for  nose,  another  for 
speed,  and  so  on,  ignoring  the  points  of  the  breed.  And 
the  reader  should  unhesitatingly  accept  that  he  can  never 
justly  sacrifice  type  for  any  educational  quality.  Moreover, 
he  should  be  duly  mindful  of  the  fact  that  less  importance 
is  to  be  attached  to  a  killing  pace  and  more  to  other  essen- 
tial qualities,  also,  that  he  cannot  expect  greyhound  speed 
in  setter  form,  and  if  he  is  to  have  one  he  must  give  up 
the  other. 

Every  beginner  should  start  out  with  a  fixed  purpose  of 
breeding,  not  for  market  m^erely,  but  to  advance  his  special 
variety  of  dogs  to  a  higher  grade  of  excellence.  Even  if 
he  is  so  fortunate  as  to  be  able  to  indulge  his  inclinations 
to  their  full  extent,  he  should  not  invest  largely  at  first. 
Three  or  four  brood  bitches  will  be  quite  as  many  as  he 
can  do  justice  to  while  yet  inexperienced,  and  to  him  they 
will  prove  more  profitable  than  would  twice  this  number. 

If  he  has  a  dog  of  his  own  he  will  likely  use  him 
in  every  instance,  and  if  he  does  so  he  will  be  liable  to  go 


204  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

backward  as  often  as  forward,  no  matter  how  good  the 
same  or  how  good  his  mates.  In  fact,  to  buy  a  dog  and 
breed  him  to  every  bitch  in  the  kennel  is  one  of  the  worst 
mistakes  which  a  breeder  can  make,  and  one  which,  as  a 
rule,  destroys  many  of  the  chances  of  eminent  success. 

Therefore,  he  is  wise  who  depends  largely  upon  others 
for  his  sires.  He  will  naturally  have  a  leaning  towards 
the  most  successful  prize-winners,  and  rightly  so,  for  in 
them  he  will  generally  find  the  nearest  approach  to  the 
ideal,  but  he  must  not  assume,  as  many  seem  to  do,  that 
these  winners  comprise  all  the  best  stock-getters.  As 
a  matter  of  fact  no  small  proportion  of  them  are  practi- 
cally valueless  for  breeding  purposes.  And  of  the  various 
reasons  for  this  fatal  defect  the  most  pronounced  is  that 
they  are  weakened  by  excessive  use  and  the  hardship  they 
undergo  in  their  preparation  for  shows  and  while  on 
the  bench  ;  in  consequence  of  which  they  are  liable  to 
produce  offspring  with  constitutional  taints  that  either 
destroy  them  early  or  lead  to  deformities  and  disease. 
Therefore,  when  selecting  from  prize-winners  one  must 
needs  be  very  cautious,  and  bear  in  mind  that  high  health 
and  vigor  are  essentials  of  infinite  importance. 

The  bitch  is  of  course  an  important  element,  yet  a  good 
dog  and  a  well-bred  but  rather  indifferent  bitch  may  breed 
the  very  best.  In  fact,  there  is  reason  to  believe  that  the 
largest  proportion  of  the  winners  have  been  from  bitches 
that  could  not  win. 

Here  intrudes  another  important  fact,  namely,  that 
those  who  are  breeding  for  size  almost  always  select  large 
bitches  and  large  dogs,  yet  the  majority  of  the  big  ones 
have  been  offspring  of  bitches  of  undersize  that  were  bred 
to  strong,  heavy-boned  dogs  of  substance. 

As  for  in-breeding,  as  a  rule  it  should  be  discouraged. 
But  to  produce  certain  results  it  is  not  only  not  harmful  but 


SELECTION  OF  SIRE.  205 

justifiable ;  indeed,  oftentimes  it  is  the  correct  way  to  fix 
desirable  qualities.  For  instance,  both  sire  and  dam  may 
wisely  be  bred  to  their  offspring,  and  even  brother  to 
sister,  if  by  this  means  there  is  a  promise  that  the  higher 
qualities  of  each  will  be  passed  on  and  better  development 
secured. 

To  justify  in-breeding,  however,  both  parties  to  the 
union  must  be  of  good  quality  and  not  share  the  same 
defects,  and  there  must  exist  ample  reason  for  expecting 
that  the  faults  of  one  will  be  corrected  or  greatly  lessened 
by  the  perfections  of  the  other. 

To  breed  as  deeply  as  stated  more  than  once  in  the 
same  family  without  a  break  is  doubtless  at  times  justifi- 
able ;  but  still  it  is  hazardous,  and  especially  so  unless  the 
individuals  are  of  rare  good  quality  and  remarkably  healthy 
and  vigorous. 

The  principal  objections  to  in-breeding  are,  that  it 
greatly  weakens  the  nervous  system, — producing  exces- 
sive excitability,  —  intensifies  constitutional  defects,  leads 
to  decrease  in  size,  creates  a  predisposition  to  disease  and 
impairs  the  reproductive  functions. 

In  a  word,  by  the  means  of  in-breeding  desirable  qualities 
may  be  made  more  pronounced,  retained  and  perpetuated, 
but  to  be  safe  it  must  be  very  intelligently  applied,  with 
well-selected  individuals  only,  and  it  must  not  go  far  in 
a  family. 

The  conclusions  to  be  drawn  from  the  foregoing  are,  that 
the  beginner  should  first  visit  shows  and  other  places 
that  furnish  material,  and  there  critically  study  the  best 
specimens  of  his  chosen  variety  of  dogs.  If  closely 
observing  he  will  in  time  become  familiar  with  what  are 
generally  accepted  as  good  qualities  and  be  able  to  detect 
the  faults.  An  ideal  model  will  then  be  possible,  and  this 
developed  and  a  knowledge  of  the  common  laws  of  inherit- 


206  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

ance  acquired  he  will  be  fairly  started  and  may  hope  to 
make  breeding  a  success.  But  until  he  has  reached  this 
point  he  will  do  well  to  consult  some  acknowledged  and 
disinterested  authority  in  his  line  of  dogs,  and  in  the 
selection  of  sires  act  as  he  advises. 

A  very  erroneous  notion  is  prevalent  regarding  the 
influence  of  the  previous  sire  on  produce,  and  a  hasty 
glance  at  the  subject  can  properly  be  taken  here. 

Cases  are  on  record  in  which  bitches  had  litters  by 
dogs  of  other  breeds  than  their  own  and  subsequent 
offsprings  by  dogs  of  their  Own  kind  exhibited  traces  of 
the  previous  sires  ;  and  such  instances,  while  extremely 
rare,  have  yet  been  too  many  and  too  well  authenticated 
to  be  denied  or  explained  away  on  the  hypothesis  of  coin- 
cidence. 

Various  theories  have  been  set  forth  as  explanations  of 
these  exceptional  phenomena,  and  as  the  writer  has  none 
to  advance  he  will  confine  himself  to  mere  review  and 
passing  criticism. 

The  first  that  found  any  considerable  acceptance  had  its 
origin  some  twoscore  years  ago,  but  soon  passed  out  of 
sight  to  be  revived  and  brought  into  prominence  by  Sir 
Everett  Millais  of  England,  who  gave  it  his  indorse- 
ment. 

This,  in  a  nutshell,  is,  that  the  life-giving  germ  can 
penetrate  the  serous  coat  of  the  ovary,  burrow  into  its 
parenchyma  and  seek  out  immature  ova,  not  to,  be  ripened 
and  discharged  perhaps  for  years,  and  to  produce  the 
modifying  influence  described. 

At  the  present  time  this  theory  is  incapable  of  proof  or 
disproof,  but  the  careful  student  can  but  acknowledge  that 
it  is  plausible,  and  after  a  consideration  of  the  different    . 
theories  the  author  of  this  must  seem  to  him  to  have  at 
least  approached  nearer  the  border  of  the  true  solution. 


SELECTION  OF  SIRE.  20/ 

of  the  vexed  problem  than  any  of  the  others  who  have 
attempted  to  reach  it. 

Another  theory  is,  that  the  influence  of  the  previous 
sire  is  due  to  maternal  impression,  consequently  is  purely 
mental. 

This  cannot  be  accepted.  Puppies  in  utero  are  in 
every  sense  parasites  and  therefore  beyond  such  influ- 
ence. Again,  if  the  phenomena  were  due  to  maternal 
impression  all  the  members  of  a  litter  would  likely  be 
affected,  whereas  as  a  rule  only  one  member  exhibits 
influence  of  the  previous  sire. 

Still  another  theory  is,  practically,  that  developing  pup- 
pies in  iitero  modify  the  tissues  and  cells  of  the  mother, 
and  such  change  is  more  or  less  permanent  and  affects 
subsequent  offspring. 

To  believe  this  is  to  accept  that  a  woman  can  be  so 
modified  in  her  physical  texture  by  the  impress  of  her 
husband,  conveyed  to  her  tlirough  the  growing  fcetns,  as  to 
stamp  the  children  by  a  future  husband  with  the  individu- 
ality of  the  former.  Bearing  in  mind  always  that  the 
child  in  titero  is  simply  a  parasite,  and  that  while  the 
developing  tissues  of  the  child  may  in  a  general  way 
be  influenced  by  the  mother's  condition  and  by  poisons 
circulating  in  her  blood,  it  is  absurd  to  suppose  that  the 
parasite  ovum  can  have  a  transforming  and  metamorphos- 
ing influence  upon  the  already  developed  tissues  of  the 
mother.  Moreover,  were  this  theory  sound  the  influence 
would  be  universally  applicable  instead  of  exceptional,  as 
it  clearly  is.  Again,  were  the  influence  transmitted 
through  a  change  in  the  maternal  make-up  it  would 
affect  all  members  of  a  litter,  and  not,  as  is  usually 
noted,  only  one  or  possibly  two. 

This  theory,  therefore,  is  vague,  unsatisfactory  and 
opposed  to  reason,  and  one  might  as  well  say  that  a  hus- 


208  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

band  can  influence  the  length  of  his  wife's  nose,  the  color 
of  her  eyes,  or  in  any  lesser  way  influence  her  tissues  and 
cells  with  the  impress  of  his  own  through  the  medium  of 
the  child  in  utero.  Nor  does  this  run  counter  to  the  fact 
that  a  husband  can  transmit  to  his  wife  a  grave  disease  of 
the  blood  through  the  medium  of  the  child  /;/  jitero,  for  in 
such  case  there  is  a  destructive  virus  or  germ  to  be  trans- 
mitted. 

But  the  theories  are  not  the  points  of  interest  in  this 
subject,  and  the  one  to  be  emphasized  is,  that  infinitely 
many  people  labor  under  the  absurd  impression  that  a 
victim  of  misalliance  is  practically  ruined  for  breeding 
purposes,  and  in  consequence  no  small  number  of  unfor- 
tunates are  sacrificed  yearly. 

All  this  is  certainly  surprising  in  face  of  the  fact  that 
the  influence  of  the  previous  sire  is  rarely  felt.  Indeed, 
Mr.  William  Wade  of  Hulton,  Pa.,  a  well-known  breeder 
as  well  as  close  and  highly  intelligent  observer,  has  care- 
fully investigated  over  fifty  cases  of  misalliance  and  found 
after-effects  in  no  more  than  three.  And  it  is  safe  to 
say  that  this  is  not  near  the  actual  proportion,  for  only 
instances  of  occurrence  are  likely  to  be  remembered. 

It  ought  not  to  be  necessary,  therefore,  to  urge  that  a 
victim  of  misalliance  should  not  be  killed  merely  because 
of  this  accident,  nor  even  considered  in  the  slightest 
degree  of  less  value  for  breeding  purposes.  She  should 
be  treated  precisely  as  she  would  have  been  treated  had 
it  not  happened  ;  and  all  subsequent  litters  that  show  no 
taint  can  without  any  impropriety  be  credited  to  their 
sires. 

That  high  health  and  vigor  are  essentials  of  infinite 
importance  in  the  dog  used  for  breeding  purposes  is  a  fact 
that  may  properly  be  repeated  for  the  sake  of  emphasis. 

As    already  stated   in    substance,  chronic  diseases  and 


SELECTION    OF    SIRE.  209 

derangements,  also  structural  defects,  —  as  deformities  of 
limb,  —  are  liable  to  be  passed  on  to  the  offspring. 
Furthermore,  inherited  defects  are  oftener  transmitted  than 
the  acquired.  If,  however,  a  dog  is  of  a  doubtful  family, 
his  sire  or  dam  having  exhibited  both  inherited  and 
acquired  defects,  and  he  fortunately  escaped  such  inheri- 
tance, but  because  of  faulty  management  in  early  life  his 
legs  were  badly  crooked,  yet  he  is  evidently  in  good 
health,  strong  and  vigorous,  then  one  would  be  justified 
in  breeding  to  him,  provided  he  possesses  some  important 
characteristic  which  the  bitch  to  be  mated  is  lacking. 

For  instance,  a  dog  has  a  grand  head,  but  is  so  bad 
behind  he  can  rightly  be  termed  a  cripple.  If  good  heads 
are  rare  with  his  breed  and  he  is  a  notable  exception 
and  constitutes  a  favorable  opportunity  to  improve  them, 
then  they  who  choose  him  for  their  snippy-headed  bitches 
would  be  acting  wisely. 

But  rarely  indeed  are  dogs  at  stud  treated  differently 
than  others,  and  yet  they  should  be  cared  for  as  intelli- 
gently, faithfully,  and  patiently  as  a  young  child,  other- 
wise, as  a  rule,  their  general  health  is  soon  impaired,  they 
are  no  longer  sound  in  body  and  limb,  they  grow  weak 
behind,  etc.,  and  ere  long  are  worthless  for  breeding 
purposes. 

In  their  hygienic  treatment  of  dogs  at  stud  caretakers 
are  often  seriously  lacking.  Doubtless  all  appreciate  the 
importance  of  daily  exercise,  yet  many  fail  to  discriminate 
properly  and  nicely  adjust  it,  as  they  ought.  Consequently, 
not  infrequently  heavy,  non-sporting  dogs  are  seen  follow- 
ing rapidly  moving  teams,  while  others  designed  for  field 
work  are  taken  out  on  the  chain. 

It  ought  not  be  difificult,  at  least  after  a  time,  to  esti- 
mate with  near  certainty  the  amount  of  exercise  a  dog 
requires  to  keep  him  at  his  best.     It  follows  also  that  it 


210  KENNEL    SECRETS. 

should  be  properly  regulated  and  faithfully  given ;  and 
not  a  day  be  allowed  to  pass  without  it  except  for  the 
best  of  reasons. 

Hard  and  fast  work  beyond  an  occasional  spurt  for  a 
short  distance  is  seldom,  if  ever,  indicated  even  for  the 
fleetest  of  sporting  dogs ;  and  certainly  not  if  they  are 
overweight,  and  must  be  reduced  in  flesh.  That  reduction 
must  be  slow  always,  and  long  easy  walks  for  large  dogs 
constitute  the  required  exercise. 

The  fact  should  be  in  mind  always  that  where  dogs  are 
overweight  because  of  too  much  fat,  and  eff"orts  are  made 
to  reduce  it  by  means  of  fast  work,  heart  trouble  is  very 
liable  to  occur,  the  walls  of  that  organ,  no  longer  firm  and 
hard,  becoming  soft  and  flabby  because  of  the  withdrawal 
of  the  fat. 

Dogs  that  are  too  fat,  therefore,  must  have  slow,  steady, 
and  long  continued  work,  be  they  sporting  or  non- 
sporting. 

The  baneful  effects  of  too  much  fat  are  felt  by  dogs  as 
well  as  bitches,  although  of  variable  intensity.  When  the 
amount  of  fat  is  excessive,  for  breeding  purposes  the 
bitches  are  generally  ruined  by  it,  they  becoming  totally 
barren.  To  dogs,  however,  the  effects  are,  as  a  rule,  less 
serious,  for  they  may  be  reproductive  to  a  limited  extent ; 
yet  their  get  are  seldom  more  than  indifferent  specimens. 
They  lack  tone  and  vigor,  if  not  actual  weaklings,  and  are 
predisposed  to  disease,  by  reason  of  their  delicacy. 

Rickets  or  an  abnormal  condition  akin  to  it  is  account- 
able for  many  deformities.  This  disease,  however,  cannot 
be  passed  on  to  offspring,  but  in  all  cases  in  which  it 
exists  there  is  some  constitutional  weakness  or  defect 
which  is  transmissible ;  consequently  the  get  are  predis- 
posed to  this  and  indeed  many  other  constitutional  diseases. 
That  is,  because  of  rickets  and  the  like  in  sire  or  dam,  the 


THE    WHIPPET,   "  ZIIBER." 


st''''';i<V'i^>»'^ 


#v'% 


THE   I>AI.MATIAA,  "WATER   LILY." 


THE   BASSET,   "BET." 


THE   I»ACHSHr:VI>,    '-JAIVET. 


SELECTION    OF   SIRE.  211 

pups  are  not  nearly  as  hardy  as  they  might  otherwise  have 
been ;  they  are  easily  made  ill,  also  are  much  more  liable 
than  healthy  pups  to  develop  such  diseases. 

He  who  breeds  extensively  and  especially  the  large 
and  heavy  dogs,  and  duly  appreciates  the  importance  of 
keeping  to  type  always  when  possible,  often  finds  himself 
in  a  dilemma. 

Again  using  as  an  illustration  the  big  dog  with  a  grand 
head,  but  badly  crippled  behind.  Notwithstanding  his 
head  is  almost  typical,  in  consequence  of  his  deformities 
he  is  a  pitiable  sight.  When  standing  still  his  defects  are 
very  apparent,  but  they  are  literally  shocking  when  he  is 
on  the  move.  In  walking  he  almost  drags  his  hind  legs, 
and  when  attempting  to  run,  he  hitches  along  so  painfully 
that  to  all  but  those  who  are  especially  interested  in  his 
breed  and  capable  of  judging,  he  is  simply  a  monstrosity. 

The  novice  in  breeding  will  likely  say  that  such  a  dog 
ought  never  to  be  used  in  the  stud,  and  yet  a  dog,  of 
which  the  foregoing  is  a  faithful  pen  picture,  was  used  by 
some  of  the  most  intelligent  and  experienced  breeders  in 
England  and  America,  and  doubtless  they  were  justified. 
But  he  placed  them  in  dilemmas,  for  he  was  just  as  likely 
—  and  not  impossibly  more  likely  —  to  transmit  his  defects 
as  his  one  rare  good  quality.  With  him,  as  with  many 
other  dogs  in  the  stud,  in  order  to  secure  a  gain  in  one 
direction  there  must  be  a  loss  in  another.  Which  will  be 
the  greater?  Is  his  use  desirable?  are  questions  sure 
to  arise  to  disturb  the  anxious  breeder. 

If  he  has  a  bitch  very  weak  in  head,  but  strong  and  well 
developed  behind,  and  he  can  breed  to  such  a  cripple 
with  a  grand  head,  and  especially  if  the  dog  is  from  a 
family  noted  for  their  good  heads,  then  he  should  do  so. 
Here  it  is  well  to  say  that  whether  or  not  deformities 
•which  such  a  dog  is  afflicted  with  are  to  appear  in  the  pups 


212  KENNEL    SECRETS. 

will  depend  much  upon  the  care  they  receive.  If  the 
proper  treatment  be  commenced  in  utero,  the  expectant 
dam  be  carefully  nourished,  especially  with  foods  which 
favor  bone  production ;  if  to  that  end  also  she  be  treated 
with  proper  medicines  while  carrying  her  puppies,  and 
they  in  turn  be  wisely  fed  from  the  day  of  weaning; 
furthermore,  be  promptly  given  tonics  when  such  are 
indicated;  and  if,  finally,  they  be  judiciously  exercised; 
then  the  chances  of  their  being  broken  down  behind  are 
indeed  but  few,  comparatively. 

Many  breeders  whose  opinions  are  of  real  value  insist 
that  health,  integrity  of  form,  and  normal  activity  are 
paramount  essentials  and  take  precedence  to  type.  That 
is,  far  better  a  healthy,  sound,  strong,  and  active  dog  and 
only  a  fair  representative  of  his  breed  than  one  like  that 
described  in  the  foregoing,  possesssd  of  only  one  point  of 
special  excellence,  and  aside  from  that  be  grievously 
wanting  and  really  a  cripple,  entirely  unfitted  for  the  pur- 
poses for  which  his  breed  was  evidently  designed. 

Far  from  justifying  the  propagation  of  a  breed  of 
cripples,  the  writer  realizes  the  importance  of  keeping  to 
type  always  in  breeding,  and  often  taking  what  may  seem 
to  some  to  be  long  chances  to  be  true  to  it. 

Using  once  more  the  grand  headed  cripple  as  an  illus- 
tration, it  were  far  better  for  a  breeder  less  fortunate  than 
the  owner  of  this  dog  to  secure  by  breeding  to  him  at 
least  that  one  notable  quality  as  speedily  as  possible  for 
the  success  of  his  kennels.  And  that  fixed  therein,  he 
should,  of  course,  endeavor  to  eradicate  the  penalties,  as  it 
were,  of  breeding  to  the  cripple.  In  other  words,  once  he 
has  a  kennel  characterized  by  grand  heads  he  should  try 
by  careful  selection  to  breed  out  the  remaining  faults. 
Thus  breeding,  never  indiscriminately,  but  always  with  a 
special  purpose,  and  invariably  resorting  to  those  dogs 


SELECTION    OF    SIRE.  213 

only  which  will  carry  him  nearer  to  the  ideal,  one  may 
confidently  hope  to  be  rewarded  by  pups  capable  of  hold- 
ing their  own  in  good  company. 

Recurring  to  the  use  of  prize  winners  at  stud,  there  are 
a  few  precautions  which  the  novice  at  least  may  wisel/ 
take. 

A  more  democratic,  courteous,  and  obliging  class  thari 
dog  fanciers  does  not  exist,  and  the  young  breeder  may 
be  sure  of  easily  obtaining  their  assistance ;  therefore, 
before  making  engagements  for  services  he  ought  to  seek 
experienced  and  successful  breeders,  and  be  guided  by 
them. 

When  making  an  engagement  for  service  it  is  best 
always  to  have  a  contract  in  writing,  otherwise  there  is 
possibility  of  misunderstanding  and  consequently  trouble. 

It  is  customary  to  allow  a  second  service  without  cost 
where  the  first  is  unsuccessful. 

In  order  to  make  the  breeding  of  dogs  pecuniarily  suc" 
cessful  it  is  necessary  to  keep  the  winners  prominent 
before  the  public,  and  as  a  rule  they  are  exhibited  at 
several  shows  every  year.  No  matter  how  they  are  con- 
ducted or  the  precautions  taken,  shows  are  a  hardship  \.o 
dogs,  and  only  a  very  few  experiences  are  required  \o 
inflict  permanent  injury.  Therefore,  after  "  cracks  "  have 
won  the  highest  honors,  by  all  means  withdraw  them  from 
the  bench. 

Let  this  be  the  universal  custom,  and  the  gain  must  be 
great.  Instead  of  being  denied  the  use  of  prize  winners, 
as  now,  because  of  impaired  health  and  soundness,  the 
inevitable  consequence  of  exposure  on  the  bench,  dogs 
which  otherwise  could  do  most  to  advance  their  race 
would  then  be  available,  their  influence  be  speedily  felt^ 
and  decided  improvement  soon  apparent  in  every  breed. 


,MiMJMi^i'<^i(<(i  v»  I     m 


CHAPTER   II. 


IN   SEASON, 


The  first  occurrence  of  that  peculiar  state  of  the  system 
known  as  the  "  rutting  season  "  or  "  oestruation,"  during 
which  only  will  the  bitch  allow  the  approaches  of  the  dog 
and  impregnation  is  possible,  as  a  rule  occurs  about  the 
ninth  month,  but  it  varies  in  different  breeds  and  individ- 
uals, also  from  the  influence  of  constitution,  diet  and  condi- 
tions and  habits  of  life.  For  instance,  some  breeds  usually 
come  in  season  when  about  eight  months  old,  whereas 
others  but  rarely  do  so  until  the  second  year  Again,  in 
bitches  that  are  healthy,  well  nourished,  have  ample  exer- 
cise and  are  otherwise  properly  treated,  this  peculiar  mani- 
festation is  very  generally  noted  much  earlier  than  in 
bitches  of  poor  constitution  kept  much  in  kennels  or  fed 
mainly  on  starchy  foods  and  allowed  but  little  meat. 

The  return  of  this  period  is  also  subject  to  frequent 
variations,  and  from  much  the  same  influences  that  delay 
its  first  occurrence  ;  and  while  bitches  that  are  happily 
placed,  well  cared  for  and  healthy  usually  come  in  twice 
yearly,  with  those  that  are  neglected,  unhealthfully  sit- 
uated or  of  feeble  or  delicate  constitutions,  the  intervals 

214 


IN  SEASON.  215 

between  the  periods  are  longer,  and  may  extend  over  a 
year  or  more. 

All  of  which  is  conclusive  evidence  of  the  fact  that  the 
various  systems  of  living  bodies  form  a  complete  system,  all 
parts  of  which  are  in  such  close  sympathy  that  if  one  be- 
comes disturbed  the  others  are  more  or  less  disturbed  also. 
Consequently  neither  the  reproductive,  the  digestive  nor 
other  systems  can  be  in  high  health  and  vigor  unless  its 
associates  are  in  the  same  happy  condition.  Now  viewing 
this  lav/  from  another  direction,  it  is  seen  that  unless  the 
general  health  is  good  the  various  systems  and  functions 
of  the  body  cannot  be  duly  active,  healthy  and  vigorous. 

Writers  upon  canine  management  have  with  singular 
unanimity  maintained  that  mating  should  never  occur 
before  the  second  period,  yet  not  a  few  breeders,  whose 
opinions  on  this  and  kindred  subjects  are  invested  with 
the  weight  of  intelligence  and  experience,  are  at  variance 
with  them,  and  these  believe  that  in  some  instances  at 
least  it  is  justifiable  at  the  first  period. 

The  usual  argument  against  early  mating  and  maternity 
is,  that  it  arrests  the  growth  and  puts  much  too  severe  a 
strain  upon  the  constitution  yet  immature  and  lacking  in 
strength,  resistant  and  reactive  powers,  thereby  prejudi- 
cing the  future  of  the  victims,  also  the  vitality  of  their 
offspring. 

Those  who  take  opposite  grounds,  while  acknowledging 
that  early  maternity  arrests  the  growth,  deny  that  it  has 
any  ill  effects,  constitutional  or  otherwise,  and  maintain  that 
to  induce  it  as  early  as  possible  is  justifiable  as  a  means  of 
correcting  certain  irregularities  of  form.  They  reason, 
and  rightly  so  in  this  instance,  that  the  growth-modifying 
influence  of  maternity  is  more  pronounced  upon  some 
parts  of  the  structure  than  upon  others,  i.e.  that  "  animals 
grow  up  and  then  grow  down,"  or  in  other  words,  that  the 


2l6  KENNEL    SECRETS. 

legs  grow  the  most  rapidly  at  first,  then  the  growth  here 
lessens  and  the  body  and  head  in  turn  grow  the  fastest. 
Consequently  they  claim  that  if  a  bitch  threatens  to  be 
"leggy"  and  "spindling,"  she  should  be  bred  at  her  first 
period. 

Before  attempting  to  solve  this  problem  there  is  a 
theory  which  finds  ready  acceptance  among  physiologists, 
and  is  sustained  by  the  experience  of  many  stock  breeders, 
which  should  be  duly  considered.  This  is,  that  the  breed- 
ing of  immature  animals  is  liable  to  arrest  the  develop- 
ment and  prejudice  the  general  health  of  the  mothers, 
also  increase  the  mortality  of  their  offspring  and  predis- 
pose that  offspring  to  barrenness  and  sterility. 

In  other  words,  in  accordance  with  this  theory,  in  early 
breeding  there  is  danger  of  permanent  injury  to  the 
mother,  deficiency  on  the  part  of  the  offspring  —  as  impair- 
ment of  constitutional  vigor  and  special  predisposition  to 
attacks  of  disease  —  and  that  offspring  is  liable  to  be 
less  fertile,  this  latter  defect  being  inherited  from  the 
■mother,  who  these  theorists  maintain  is  less  fecund 
while  yet  immature  than  she  will  be  after  reaching 
maturity. 

That  statistics  show  that  women  under  the  age  of 
twenty  are  less  productive  than  those  between  the  ages 
of  twenty  and  thirty  is  a  fact.  That  offspring  of  mothers 
while  yet  immature  and  less  fecund  are  liable  to  inherit  a 
tendency  to  lessened  fertility  is  not  at  all  unreasonable. 
Many  authorities  in  stock-breeding  are  very  ready  to 
accept  that  early  breeding  has  the  effects  stated  on  the 
lower  order  of  animals,  and  they  evidently  find  ample  sup- 
port in  the  experience  of  intelligent  breeders. 

Considering  all  this,  also  that  there  is  no  reason  for 
believing  that  bitches  are  notable  exceptions  to  other 
domesticated  animals  and  beyond  the  plainly  evident  laws 


IN  SEASON.  217 

relating  to  early  maternity  which  are  so  prevalent,  more- 
over, that  his  experience  in  breeding  has  convinced  him 
that  bitches  and  their  offspring  are  liable  to  the  same  ill 
effects  of  this  practice  as  other  animals,  —  although  they 
may  not  be  as  marked  as  with  some  species,  —  the  writer 
holds  that  considering  this  question  fairly  and  from  the 
standpoint  of  health  alone,  the  inevitable  conclusion  must 
be  that  no  bitch  ought  to  be  mated  before  she  has  reached 
full  growth. 

Those  who  advocate  breeding  at  the  first  period  do  not, 
however,  consider  the  question  from  this  standpoint,  but  as 
one  of  expediency ;  and  taking  the  same  liberal  view  of  it, 
considering,  also,  the  extent  to  which  their  theory  is 
practised,  one  naturally  hesitates  to  assert  that  they  are 
absolutely  wrong.  And,  certainly,  they  have  some  sup- 
port in  the  fact  that  while  maternity  will  arrest  the  up- 
ward crrowth  of  bitches  it  will  not  have  the  same  decided 
effect  upon  the  growth  of  their  bodies  ;  and  if  one  threat- 
ens to  shoot  up  too  high  on  her  legs  she  will  likely  under 
its  influence  settle  down  and  assume  rather  better  shape 
than  she  would  had  nature  not  been  interfered  with. 

Fortunately  this  method  of  "  shaping "  is  rarely  ever 
applied  excepting  to  a  few  small  breeds  in  which  the 
injuries  of  too  early  maternity  are  only  comparatively 
slis:ht,  and  it  is  easier  to  condone  it  since  there  exist 
standards  which  demand  that  certain  varieties  of  dogs  be 
unnaturally  long  in  body  and  low  on  the  legs.  Moreover, 
it  is  simply  natural  for  a  breeder  to  prefer  a  symmetri- 
cally formed  little  bitch  to  a  big  one  greatly  out  of  pro- 
portion ;  and  there  are  not  many  who  would  allow  the 
question  of  health  to  weigh  very  heavily  could  he  stop  a 
bitch  from  running  up  like  a  weed. 

This  other  view  of  the  question  certainly  lessens  the 
force  of  the  arguments  against  breeding  bitches  at  their 


2l8  KENNEL  SECRETS. 

first  season.  Yet  even  now  the  conclusion  must  be  that 
the  custom  is  prejudicial,  although,  doubtless,  the  infinite 
majority  of  those  who  consider  the  matter  will  be  ready 
to  concede  that  it  is  sometimes  justified  as  a  remedial 
measure. 

If  such  is  the  acceptance  and  bitches  are  bred  at  their 
first  season  to  correct  threatened  irregularities  of  form  of 
the  nature  described,  let  the  enfeebling  influence  of  the 
remedy  be  kept  in  mind  and  every  effort  made  to  com- 
bat it  by  a  generous  diet,  ample  exercise  in  pure  air,  and 
other  hygienic  means. 

There  are  a  few  breeders  possessed  of  the  idea  that  to 
delay  maternity  one  period  merely  will  impair  the  func- 
tions of  the  breasts  and  render  them  less  capable  of  secret- 
ing milk.  It  ought  not  to  be  necessary  to  say  that  this  is 
a  rank  absurdity.  Consider  greyhounds,  for  instance,  that 
are  kept  for  coursing,  they  are  not  bred  until  they  are  sev- 
eral years  old,  yet  they  are  usually  free-milking  mothers. 
But  to  discuss  this  fallacy  is  unnecessary,  for  cases  which 
refute  it  are  constantly  occurring  in  the  practice  of  all 
who  breed  extensively. 

As  a  matter  of  fact,  instead  of  the  secreting  power  of 
the  breasts  being  prejudiced  by  delay  it  is  really  strength- 
ened by  it.  And  here  appears  another  reason  for  con- 
demning the  practice  of  too  early  mating.  The  mammary 
glands  are  either  under  the  direct  influence  of  the  repro- 
ductive organs  or  in  close  sympathy  with  them,  and  where 
those  organs  are  lacking  in  development  the  secreting 
power  of  the  breasts  is  lacking  in  corresponding  degree. 
Consequently  an  immature  mother  cannot  be  as  able  sup- 
port as  she  who  has  been  fully  developed  by  age. 

The  period  of  maturity  varies  greatly  in  different 
breeds,  and  while  it  is  reached  by  some  early  in  the  sec- 
ond year,  others  are  not  fully  matured  until  they  have 


IN  SEASON.  219 

entered  the  third  year.  The  larger  breeds  are,  as  a  rule, 
the  last  to  mature,  and  but  very  few  of  them  have  done 
so  before  they  are  two  years  old,  while  many  are  still 
growing  even  at  their  thirtieth  month.  Yet  there  are 
toys,  Italian  greyhounds  and  Maltese  terriers  for  instance, 
that  are  only  a  little  in  advance  of  the  big  ones,  for  they 
are  not  mature  until  two  years  old,  and  some  are  still 
developing  several  months  afterward.  Individuals  also 
vary,  and  while  a  breed  may  generally  have  matured  at 
the  age  of  two  years,  oftentimes  members  are  still  on  the 
way  even  when  two  and  a  half  years  old. 

In  some  bitches  there  is  a  slight  change  of  demeanor 
as  they  are  about  to  come  in  season,  characterized  by  rest- 
lessness and  an  increased  show  of  affection,  but  the 
earliest  conclusive  sign  of  that  peculiar  condition  is  a 
sanguineous  discharge,  which  deepens  in  color  during  the 
first  twenty-four  or  forty-eight  hours,  when  it  lightens  a 
little  and  usually  becomes  bright  red  and  of  the  consist- 
ency of  blood  that  has  been  several  times  diluted.  This 
generally  persists  with  but  little  variation,  except  it  may 
be  of  darker  color  in  some  instances,  for  five  or  six  days, 
when  the  color  begins  to  fade,  and  by  the  tenth  or 
eleventh  day  from  its  first  appearance  the  discharge  has 
merely  a  slight  reddish  tinge,  which  generally  entirely 
disappears  in  the  course  of  a  day  or  two. 

The  mucous  membrane  lining  the  passage  from  which 
this  issues  is  invariably  more  or  less  congested  and  red- 
dened. In  many  cases,  also,  there  is  considerable  swell- 
ing or  puffiness  of  the  outer  parts  ;  and  this  is  the  rule 
with  young  bitches,  but  with  those  that  have  borne  several 
litters  there  is  generally  a  little  less  swelling  than  at  the 
first  season,  while  in  occasional  instances  it  is  so  slight  it 
might  easily  escape  notice. 

When  the  swelling  is  present  it  remains  hard  and  tense 


220  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

for  about  a  week,  after  which  it  gradually  softens,  as  it 
were,  and  becomes  much  less  resistant  to  the  touch  ;  and 
usually  it  has  entirely  disappeared  before  the  end  of  the 
second  week. 

With  such  obvious  signs  it  will  doubtless  seem  to  the 
inexperienced  that  where  due  care  is  used  it  must  be  well- 
nigh  impossible  for  a  bitch  to  pass  through  a  "season  " 
without  her  condition  being  discovered,  yet  were  these 
alone  relied  upon  such  mishaps  might  occur  provided  the 
swelling  was  only  slight,  for  the  discharge  might  be  scanty, 
in  which  instance  detection  would  not  be  so  very  easy,  or 
it  might  be  moderately  profuse  and  still  not  appear  on  ex- 
amination because  of  having  been  shortly  before  washed 
away  by  the  excretions  from  the  kidneys.  But  unless  a 
bitch  is  kept  closely  confined  to  her  kennel  and  alone,  the 
change  in  her  demeanor,  also  the  attraction  she  offers  for 
dogs,  must  clearly  indicate  when  this  period  is  on. 

It  usually  extends  over  about  three  weeks,  but  only 
during  a  small  part  of  it  will  the  approach  of  the  dog  be 
permitted  ;  and  the  duration  of  this  all-important  period, 
while  generally  from  four  to  seven  days,  sometimes  longer, 
may  in  occasional  cases  be  much  shorter.  And  this  fact 
the  novice  in  breeding  will  do  well  to  keep  in  mind. 

In  this  period,  during  which  only  is  mating  possible, 
the  swelling  is  no  longer  hard  but  has  softened  greatly 
and  is  rapidly  subsiding,  or  it  may  have  disappeared 
entirely.  The  discharge  is  now  but  slightly  tinged  with 
blood  or  is  quite  colorless,  and  there  is  a  decided  disposi- 
tion exhibited  to  court  the  society  of  others  of  her  kind, 
in  the  presence  of  which  very  often  her  tail  is  lifted  and 
carried  to  one  side. 

The  practical  conclusions  to  be  drawn  from  this  are, 
that  the  several  stages  of  season  vary  not  only  in  the  dif- 
ferent breeds  but  in  members  of    the  same  breed,  and 


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FREIVCH  BITI.T.   T>0<i,    "RICO. 


IN  season:  221 

while  some  bitches  will  not  permit  the  approach  of  the 
dog,  or  in  other  words  are  not  "  ready,"  before  the  end  of 
the  second  week,  others  have  reached  this  most  important 
stage  by  the  end  of  the  first  week.  Moreover,  that  while 
as  a  rule  bitches  remain  for  several  days  in  a  state  when 
to  mate  is  possible,  in  some  cases  this  period  scarcely 
extends  beyond  a  day. 

Most  bitches  can  be  mated  about  the  twelfth  day,  but 
in  occasional  instances  they  are  ready  on  the  sixth  or 
seveTith,  while  in  others  mating  is  impossible  before 
the  fourteenth  or  fifteenth  day.  And  these  peculiarities 
are  not  constant,  for  the  same  bitch  at  one  season  may  be 
ready  in  the  beginning  of  the  second  week,  and  yet  at  her 
next  this  essential  condition  be  delayed  until  a  much  later 
day. 

Obviously  no  rule  can  be  fixed  which  will  meet  all  cases, 
and  the  only  safe  course  to  pursue  after  a  bitch  comes  in 
season  is  to  note  each  day  the  condition  of  her  discharge 
and  admit  the  dog  when  it  has  lost  most  of  its  redness. 
Some  writers,  by  the  way,  advise  waiting  until  the  redness 
has  entirely  disappeared,  and  to  this  no  objection  can  be 
offered  where  the  handlers  are  experienced  and  the  bitches 
old  acquaintances,  but  for  tyros,  or  even  masters  with 
strange  subjects,  to  delay  until  such  complete  change  in 
the  discharge  has  occurred  would  be  decidedly  hazardous 
—  a  statement  which  doubtless  many  who  recall  their  ear- 
liest attempts  at  breeding  will  fully  indorse. 

A  bitch  may  act  shyly  at  first  in  the  presence  of  the 
dog,  but  if  ready  she  will  generally  soon  give  evidence  of 
the  fact  by  frisking  about  him,  assuming  peculiar  attitudes 
and  very  likely  jumping  upon  him.  If,  however,  she 
growls  and  snaps  when  he  approaches,  and  persists  in 
doing  this  for  about  ten  minutes,  he  should  be  removed, 
to  be  returned  on  the  following  day.     And  it  is  well  to 


222  KENNEL  SECRETS. 

add  that  the  custom  of  turning  the  two  into  a  yard  and 
leaving  them  together  for  some  hours  is  thoroughly  wrong 
and  a  cruelty  to  both. 

Where  this  test  cannot  be  applied  because  the  mating 
must  occur  at  a  considerable  distance,  it  is  wise  to  ship 
the  bitch  to  the  kennels  of  the  dog  soon  after  the  first 
signs  of  season  have  appeared,  lest  it  prove  one  of  those 
instances  in  which  the  mating  period  is  very  short. 

Here  intrudes  a  fact  which,  while  of  no  great  importance, 
is  worth  recording,  namely,  that  bitches  that  have  been 
successfully  served  have  generally  seemed  to  go  out  of 
season  more  quickly  than  those  in  which  the  service  was 
unsuccessful.  And  in  the  experience  of  the  writer  this 
has  been  quite  constant  in  bitches  that  have  passed  the 
third  or  fourth  year  and  were  mated  at  every  period,  while 
the  most  notable  exceptions  were  bitches  that  had  been 
allowed  to  "  go  by  "  one  or  more  periods,  or  where  for 
causes  unappreciable  the  intervals  had  been  much  longer 
than  usual.  For  instance,  in  one  case  for  several  periods 
at  which  successful  service  occurred  the  bitch  went  out  of 
season  by  the  third  day,  then  a  year  and  a  half  passed 
without  her  coming  in,  and  when  she  did  so  she  remained  in 
season  for  eight  days  and  was  mated  on  every  alternate 
day.     The  services,  however,  proved  unsuccessful. 

Perhaps  it  is  sentiment  merely  that  leads  to  the  sugges- 
tion that  two  perfect  strangers  be  permitted  to  become 
somewhat  acquainted  before  they  are  put  into  the  same 
enclosure.  And  if  allowed  to  run  for  a  short  time  in  ad- 
joining yards,  separated  by  a  picket  fence,  the  strange- 
ness for  the  visitor  —  the  one  deserving  the  greatest 
consideration — will  soon  wear  off  and  subsequently  the 
desired  result  will  be  more  easily  attained,  especially  if 
she  is  of  nervous  and  timid  nature. 

How   many    "  services "    are   required  .■'      One   only  if 


IN  SEASON  223 

complete,  although  breeders,  with  but  few  exceptions, 
favor  a  second,  after  an  interval  of  two  days.  The  prac- 
tice of  their  theory  is  open  to  one  objection  only,  namely, 
the  hardship  that  it  entails  upon  the  dog,  whose  vitality 
must  inevitably  be  greatly  exhausted  if  too  frequent  demands 
are  made  upon  him. 

The  position  has  been  taken  in  the  foregoing  that  bitches 
are  guided  by  nature  in  their  conduct  with  the  dog  and 
resent  his  overtures  at  all  times  except  when  in  season 
and  in  the  favorable  stage.  This  is  the  rule  and  exceptions 
to  it  are  exceedingly  rare,  but  still,  that  they  do  occur  is  a 
fact  beyond  dispute,  for  cases  are  on  record  in  which  the 
services  took  place  between  the  periods  of  season  ;  and 
several  of  the  bitches  were  in  pup,  while  one  was  in  her 
last  week  before  whelping. 

At  this  point  the  writer  is  reminded  of  the  extremely 
prevalent  idea  that  unless  the  dog  and  bitch  are  tied 
the  service  cannot  be  productive.  Now,  while  this  condi- 
tion can  be  accepted  as  positive  evidence  of  a  successful 
service,  and  in  its  absence  success  may  well  be  doubted, 
it  does  not  follow  that  in  every  case  where  speedy  separa- 
tion occurs  failure  is  inevitable  ;  and  as  a  matter  of  fact  a 
number  of  instances  are  known  in  which  such  assumed 
failures  proved  eminent  successes,  the  testimony  being  in 
one  of  them  a  litter  of  fourteen  puppies.  On  the  other 
hand,  the  fact  that  tying  occurs  and  to  all  appearances  the 
dog  is  perfectly  sound  is  not  proof  that  he  is  capable  of 
getting  puppies. 

Notwithstanding  these  exceptions,  however,  with  which 
it  is  well  to  be  familiar,  the  condition  in  question  should 
be  held  highly  essential,  and  where  one  dog  fails  to  attain 
it  another  should  be  tried  if  possible.  But  in  the  absence 
of  a  resource,  if  the  appearance  and  behavior  of  the  dog 
indicate  that  tying  only  has  been  wanting,  the  case  should 


224  KENNEL  SECRETS. 

not  be  considered  hopeless,  although  the  chances  are  very 
many  indeed  that  it  will  prove  so. 

High  health  and  vigor  are  of  infinite  importance  in  both 
subjects  of  a  union,  otherwise  the  offspring  must  very 
generally  be  more  or  less  wanting  in  health  and  vigor  at 
birth ;  and  where  the  constitutional  defects  are  pronounced 
in  either  the  sire  or  dam,  not  only  do  the  puppies  re- 
quire the  most  intelligent  and  painstaking  management, 
but  even  when  this  is  afforded  and  they  live  they  seldom 
thrive  and  develop  into  good  specimens  of  their  breeds. 

Not  unnaturally,  the  offspring  of  show  winners  are  in 
the  greatest  demand,  and  these  are  notoriously  the  most 
unsound  constitutionally,  because  of  the  treatment  that  is 
often  inflicted  to  bring  them  into  condition,  the  hardships 
inseparable  from  long  journeys  and  shows,  and  the  ex- 
cesses that  the  dogs  are  obliged  to  undergo  to  meet  the 
demands  in  their  own  kennels  and  of  admiring  patrons. 

A  notion  which  is  quite  generally  accepted  and  con- 
tributes much  to  failures  in  breeding  is,  that  notwithstand- 
ing one  of  the  subjects  of  a  union  is  much  below  the 
standard  of  health  if  the  other  is  sound  and  vigorous  the 
offspring  will  be  strong  and  hardy.  Such  a  happy  result 
is  not  at  all  likely,  for  even  were  the  constitutional  infir- 
mities themselves,  of  the  sire  or  dam  not  transmitted,  there 
must  be,  almost  invariably,  passed  on  to  the  offspring  at 
least  a  predisposition  to  those  infirmities ;  or,  in  other 
words,  the  puppies  if  not  absolutely  weakly  must  be  spe- 
cially liable  to  have,  some  time  in  their  lives,  the  disease 
and  weaknesses  of  their  parents. 

Of  course  a  bitch  of  somewhat  doubtful  constitution 
might  prove  a  success  if  always  bred  to  dogs  that  pos- 
sessed high  health  and  vigor  in  an  eminent  degree,  yet 
were  her  infirmities  pronounced,  or  she  was  the  victim  of 
transmissible  disease,  then,  certainly,  she  would  be  unfit 
for  breeding  purposes. 


BFLiIi  DOGS. 


"IIARPEB. 


<;UAVKA    I>fAC;E." 


IVKT.    IXKTOU.*' 


"KiTvo  T^rn. 


IIOI.V    TKKKOR." 


IHtlTO^IAKTIS. 


BOSTO:V   TEKRIEK,   <'  SPORTSMAX. 


IIOSTOA'    TliUKlKll,    ••I>AI>V    I>AI]\TY." 


IN  SEASON.  225 

Should  bitches  be  bred  at  every  season?  Upon  this 
question,  also,  breeders  are  at  variance,  and  v^hile  some 
contend  that  it  is  an  injurious  practice  and  one  which  must 
inevitably  undermine  the  strongest  constitution,  others  as 
stoutly  maintain  that  they  have  never  detected  evidences 
of  ill  effects  from  it. 

To  sustain  them  in  their  position  the  first  class  rely 
mainly  on  the  fact  that  bitches  of  sporting  varieties  lose 
speed  after  being  bred  often,  and  they  claim  that  there  is 
also  a  loss  of  vigor.  The  other  class  acknowledge  that 
speed  is  lessened  in  breeding,  but  they  point  to  the  fact 
that  great  speed,  in  the  greyhound  for  instance,  is  out  of 
the  question  after  breeding  once  only,  and  they  are  not 
ready  to  accept  that  this  loss  is  any  evidence  of  impair- 
ment of  vigor. 

In  cases  in  which  abnormalities  exist,  beyond  doubt 
animals  are  sometimes  improved  in  health  by  carrying 
young,  but  as  a  rule  gestation  and  nursing  must  tax  the 
energies  of  the  system.  And  while  the  lost  vigor  is 
doubtless  very  often  restored,  it  is  certainly  not  restored 
in  all  cases.  And  whether  or  not  the  loss  is  permanent 
depends  much  upon  the  existing  conditions.  For  instance, 
a  bitch  allowed  entire  liberty,  fed  rightly  and  kept  under 
good  hygienic  influences,  might  be  bred  at  every  season 
without  loss  of  constitutional  vigor,  whereas  another  con- 
fined much  to  kennels  and  fed  as  dogs  so  placed  are  gen- 
erally fed  would  scarcely  be  so  fortunate.  In  truth,  many 
bitches  living  under  such  poor  conditions  and  bred  at 
every  season  present  symptoms  that  can  only  be  inter- 
preted as  evidences  of  decline.  And  in  the  most  pro- 
nounced cases  these  are  a  lack  of  natural  excitability  and 
buoyancy  of  spirit,  tendency  to  sluggishness  rather  than 
activity;  and  of  those  that  have  borne  several  large  litters 
not  a  few  are  weak  in  loins  and  settled  in  the  back. 


226  KENNEL  SECRETS. 

Beyond  doubt,  considering  them  as  a  whole,  and  how 
they  are  usually  fed  and  otherwise  cared  for,  were  it  the 
rule  to  breed  only  at  alternate  periods,  bitches  generally 
would  be  better  for  it,  and  they  would  have  healthier 
puppies.  But  assuming  that  the  bitch  is  of  large  size  and 
not  mature  before  she  is  two  and  a  half  years  old,  she 
would  not  likely  breed  much  after  her  sixth  year,  or  if  she 
did  her  litters  would  be  very  small.  Consequently  she 
would  have  only  about  four  good  litters  ;  and  but  few 
breeders  would  consider  her  a  profitable  investment. 

Those  viewing 'this  matter  fairly  must  be  ready  to  ac- 
cept that  he  who  considers  only  the  welfare  of  his  bitch 
will  allow  her  to  go  by  occasionally,  while  he  who  values 
his  very  largely  for  her  produce  and  the  income  she  yields 
will  breed  her  as  often  as  he  can.  But  all  can  be  assured 
that  unless  bitches  are  well  cared  for  in  every  way  they 
cannot  be  bred  at  every  season  and  retain  full  health  and 
vigor. 

Here  the  writer  is  reminded  of  that  ancient  absurdity, 
which  long  ago  ought  to  have  been  swept  from  the  minds 
of  breeders,  that  puppies  of  the  first  litter  must  necessarily 
be  less  strong  and  healthy  than  those  of  subsequent  litters. 
As  a  matter  of  fact,  all  conditions  being  favorable,  the 
first  puppies  are  likely  to  be  a  trifle  the  best,  provided 
always  their  mother  had  fully  matured  before  she  was 
bred.  And  the  reason  for  this  statement,  which  must 
surprise  some,  is,  that  considering  the  care  given  the 
average  mother,  her  subsequent  confinement  to  small 
quarters,  and  other  abuses  so  often  inflicted  upon  her,  she 
would,  as  a  rule,  be  in  better  health  and  vigor  in  her  third 
year  of  life  than  ever  afterward.  Moreover,  the  younger 
the  dam — provided,  again,  that  she  is  mature — -not  only 
the  better  and  stronger  her  puppies  but  the  larger  her 
litters.     Beyond   all  this,  there  have  been   cases  where 


IN  SEASON.  227 

bitches  never  bred  good  ones  after  their  first  litters,  and 
all  puppies  in  those  litters  were  grand. 

Another  important  fact  of  which  many  breeders  are  un- 
mindful is,  that  bitches  must  not  be  allowed  to  become  too 
fat,  for  where  there  is  a  tendency  in  that  direction  there 
is  usually  a  lack  of  constitutional  vigor,  an  impairment  of 
the  milk-secreting  glands  and  some  loss  of  fertility.  Take, 
for  instance,  a  bitch  that  has  been  laying  on  too  much  fat 
during  her  second  year ;  the  chances  are  that  when  she 
reaches  maturity  her  procreative  functions  will  be  so  lack- 
ing that  it  will  be  hard  to  breed  her,  or  if  successfully 
bred  she  will  have  small  litters  and  poor  puppies,  also  be 
deficient  in  milk,  for  too  much  fat  during  the  growing 
stage  means  retarded  development  of  the  generative  organs 
and  lessened  activity  in  the  mammary  glands. 

Now  assume  that  the  bitch  which  is  much  too  fat  had 
several  litters  before  she  became  so.  It  will  be  hard  to 
mate  her,  because  the  natural  promptings  which  charac- 
terize the  season  have  given  place  to  almost  complete 
indifference.  Again,  her  generative  organs  are  much  less 
active  than  normal ;  moreover,  there  are  chances  that  they 
have  undergone  some  fatty  degeneration  which  impairs  or 
entirely  destroys  their  functional  activity.  Or  if  such  is 
not  the  case  and  she  is  successfully  bred,  the  litters  or  the 
puppies,  or  both,  are  quite  certain  to  be  small,  because  of 
impairment  of  vital  energy  and  vigor  of  the  reproductive 
powers,  and  not  impossibly  some  mechanical  obstruction 
exerted  on  the  generative  organs  by  the  fat  deposited  on 
and  near  them. 

Some  say  a  bitch  can  scarcely  be  too  thin  at  the  time 
of  service  if  she  is  strong  and  healthy  and  free  from  worms, 
but  she  is  nearest  right,  and  her  breeding  powers  are  the 
most  vigorous,  when  in  the  middle  state  —  that  is  neither 
too  fat  nor  too  thin. 


228  KENNEL  SECRETS. 

As  for  sterility  from  excessive  fatness,  where  the  gener- 
ative organs  have  undergone  fatty  degeneration  or  other 
serious  change  a  cure  is  out  of  the  question.  But  short 
of  that  point  improvement  is  likely  to  occur  in  many  in- 
stances if  a  great  amount  of  exercise  is  given,  the  quantity 
of  starches  is  reduced  or  they  are  withheld  altogether  and 
the  diet  is  made  up  largely  of  meat,  and  only  such  vege- 
table foods  are  allowed  as  grow  above  ground  —  as,  for 
instance,  spinach,  dandelion  and  other  greens,  nettle  tops, 
cabbages,  etc. 

According  to  reports,  copious  bleeding  has  been  tried 
in  some  cases,  but  while  this  treatment  might  overcome 
sterility  when  due  to  a  plethoric  condition  of  the  system, 
or,  in  other  words,  where  the  victims  had  too  much  blood 
and  there  was  great  irritability  of  the  organs  of  generation 
in  consequence  of  local  congestion  or  inflammation  which 
interfered  with  their  function,  it  is  certainly  not  appro- 
priate for  sterility  from  obesity,  in  which  the  constitution 
is  impaired  and  must  suffer  a  still  greater  loss  of  vigor 
with  the  depletion. 


THi:    BII.L    l>0<i,    ••SAACHO    PAAZA.'' 


THE   BOSTOA    TKURIER,    "'ROSSIK   RICHARDS." 


itosTOA'  ta:i;kii>i4,    -.noAiK. 


CHAPTER    III. 

BEFORE    WHELPING. 

If  a  bitch  has  not  been  accustomed  to  free  exercise, 

for  at  least  two  months  before  she  is  due  in  season  she 
should  be  given  a  goodly  amount  of  slow  work  every  day  ; 
and  this  treatment  should  be  persisted  in  until  she  is 
nearly  ready.  From  then  on  to  the  time  when  the  wonted 
condition  of  things  is  restored  she  should  be  much  at  rest. 
And  being  deprived  of  her  regular  exercise,  the  usual  pro- 
portion of  meat  allowed  her  should  be  considerably  reduced 
and  that  of  vegetable  foods  and  bread,  rice  or  other  starches 
increased  in  corresponding  degree. 

The  service  successful  and  the  season  past,  thereafter 
and  until  the  day  of  whelping  the  bitch  should  have  con- 
stant liberty  to  exercise  herself  in  her  own  way,  and  if  the 
same  is  allowed,  but  not  otherwise,  she  will  likely  not  only 
acquire  and  retain  high  health  and  vigor  but  give  birth  to 
strong  and  healthy  puppies. 

To  emphasize  this  point  too  strongly  would  be  simply 
impossible,  for  a  denial  of  ample  exercise  during  gestation 
is  one  of  the  most  frequent  and  potent  causes  of  mortality 
among  puppies,  which  sends  them  into  the  world  so  poor 

229 


230  KENNEL  SECRETS. 

in  strength  and  vitality  that  their  days  are  numbered  even 
from  the  first.  But  beyond  the  imperative  necessity  of 
exercise,  which  alone  is  all-sufficient  reason  for  allowing 
bitches  perfect  freedom,  there  is  another  reason  of  very 
great  moment,  and  this  appears  in  the  fact  that  when  per- 
rnitted  to  do  so  they  will  get  at  manure  heaps  and  dig  up 
and  eat  all  sorts  of  stuff  that  they  do  not  touch  when  not 
in  whelp,  thereby  plainly  showing  that  there  is  much  that 
they  need  of  which  man  as  yet  knows  nothing. 

Of  course  there  is  some  danger  of  infection  by  worms 
whefe  such  tendencies  are  gratified,  but  that  goes  out 
of  sight  in  the  presence  of  the  many  infinite  advantages  of 
entire  liberty  ;  and  it  is  again  urged  that  this  be  allowed 
in  every  case  in  which  it  is  possible,  and  when  absolutely 
impossible,  the  bitch  in  pup  must  be  taken  out  for  scampers 
or  strolls  on  all  favorable  opportunities. 

To  bring  on  labor  prematurely  simply  by  exercise  is 
never  easy  in  strong,  healthy  bitches  as  long  as  they  go 
their  own  gait,  as  it  were,  and  instances  are  numerous  in 
which  such  have  worked  in  the  field  to  the  day  and  almost 
the  very  hour  of  whelping  without  experiencing  any  un- 
pleasant results.  Notwithstanding  these,  however,  severe 
exercise,  as  in  hunting,  during  the  last  two  or  three  weeks 
of  pregnancy,  must  be  somewhat  hazardous. 

As  for  working  a  bitch  in  whelp  behind  a  horse,  it  is 
never  wise,  for  the  chances  are  many  that  she  would  over- 
exert herself. 

In  these  weeks  special  precautions  are  imperative  against 
jumping  fences  and  like  violent  exercise ;  and  external 
injuries  must  be  carefully  guarded  against,  for  even  a  slight 
blow  may  prove  destructive. 

If  the  bitch  is  kept  in  a  yard,  to  preclude  all  possibility 
of  her  digging  her  way  out  is  another  essential  precaution, 
for  were  she  to  do  so  during  the  last  two  weeks  of  gesta- 


BEFORE    WHELPING.  23 1 

tion,  premature  whelping  might  occur  in  consequence  of 
the  twisting  and  squeezing.  And  of  all  experiences  likely 
to  cause  this  accident  there  are  but  few  more  potent  than 
fights  —  not  so  much  because  of  such  injuries  as  bruises 
and  lacerations,  but  because  of  the  great  shocks  inflicted 
upon  the  nervous  and  circulatory  systems. 

While  these  precautions  are  imperative  in  every  instance 
where  signs  indicative  of  pregnancy  are  present,  they  may 
properly  be  instituted  in  all  cases,  and  persisted  in  un- 
til it  is  plainly  evident  that  they  are  unnecessary,  —  the 
mating  having  been  unsuccessful.  And  the  reader  who 
has  yet  to  acquire  an  experience  in  breeding  will  do  well 
to  bear  in  mind  the  fact  that  doubtful  cases  are  not  infre- 
quent ;  also,  that  in  occasional  instances^it  will  be  impossi- 
ble for  him  to  determine  with  positive  certainty  before  the 
end  of  the  ninth  week  whether  or  not  pregnancy  exists. 

The  assertion  has  been  made  that  in  most  bitches  there 
occur  changes  in  demeanor  which  are  suggestive  of  preg- 
nancy, yet  the  writer  has  never  been  able  to  detect  any  of 
the  slightest  diagnostic  importance,  and  in  his  experience 
the  first  sign  of  value  is  a  modification  in  the  size  of  the 
uterus.  This  is  scarcely  ever  appreciable  to  the  touch  of 
a  skilful  examiner  before  the  third  week,  and  frequently 
difficulties  are  encountered  v/hich  deny  it  to  him  until  a 
much  later  period,  while  in  the  most  favorable  cases  he 
who  is  inexperienced  can  scarcely  ever  make  out  an  en- 
larged uterus  before  the  fourth  week  ;  and  very  generally 
he  finds  it  impossible  to  do  so  before  the  fifth  or  sixth 
week. 

To  those  unfamiliar  with  this  means  of  diagnosis  the 
earliest  sign  of  value  is  an  enlargement  of  the  abdomen  ; 
and  this  is  generally  manifested  near  the  fifth  week,  al- 
though it  may  be  delayed  for  a  week  or  more,  and  it  may 
even  be  unappreciable  to  the  ordinary  eye  up  to  the  date 


232  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

of  whelping.  Cases,  however,  in  which  it  does  not  appear 
are  not  very  common,  and  many  of  the  exceptional  are 
bitches  that  have  unusually  large  or  very  round  abdomens 
or  are  carrying  very  small  litters.  In  some,  also,  the  en- 
largement is  less  marked  and  may  even  be  unapparent 
because  of  the  peculiar  rib  formation  ;  and  of  this  class 
the  greyhound  family  are  the  best  illustration,  for  a  diag- 
nosis of  pregnancy  in  its  members  is,  as  a  rule,  the  most 
difficult,  and  in  many  instances  where  there  are  only  one 
or  two  puppies  their  presence  can  scarcely  be  detected 
until  near  the  whelping,  while  in  some  it  cannot  be  made 
out  with  certainty  before  the  pains  of  labor  have  set  in. 

Where  abdominal  enlargement  occurs  early  it  becomes 
steadily  more  pronounced  until  near  the  ninth  week,  and 
then  for  several  days  the  increase  in  size  appears  to  be 
much  more  rapid  than  before,  owing  to  a  settling  down  of 
the  greatly  distended  uterus  and  a  backward  movement  on 
its  part.  This  settling  having  occurred,  if  all  goes  well 
whelping  may  be  confidently  expected  within  ten  days. 
And  he  who  watches  the  apparently  backward  progress  of 
the  uterus  and  the  rapid  enlargement  at  its  neck  —  the 
most  posterior  part  —  can  generally  detect  without  the  aid 
of  any  other  signs  when  the  last  stage  of  gestation  has 
been  reached  and  whelping  is  imminent. 

In  order  to  make  the  most  of  this  sign  the  examiner 
should  kneel  behind  the  standing  bitch  and  pass  his 
hand  between  her  legs  to  the  abdomen.  If  she  is  of  very 
large  breed  and  at  the  beginning  of  the  ninth  week,  when 
his  wrist  is  between  the  legs  and  just  below  the  outlet  of 
the  bowel  he  will  feel  with  the  tips  of  his  fingers  the  pos- 
terior extremity  of  the  uterus.  On  subsequent  examina- 
tion this  will  be  found  to  progress  backward  —  approach 
him  —  to  an  appreciable  extent  each  day ;  and  when  at 
last  it  has  gone  as  far  as  it  can,  whelping  may  be  expected 
within  twenty-four  hours. 


JtOSTOA    TKRKIKIIS. 


CHAMPIOX,   '-LORD   DEKUY." 


CHAMPIOA',   '•RE.IIHK  BOJW'XIE." 


BlTLt,   TKKKIKK,    "  STKJEATHA.U   310AAKCU." 


>VIRE-1IAIRKT>   FOX   Ti:itKlKK,   CHAMPIOX   "  MEERSBROOK   BRISTLES." 


BEFORE    WHELPING.  233 

Beyond  this  sign  there  are  others  that  indicate  when 
the  time  of  whelping  is  rapidly  nearing.  One  of  them  is 
an  enlargement  of  the  breasts  and  the  secretion  of  milk, 
and  another  the  active  movements  of  the  puppies.  During 
the  ninth  week  these  movements  are  generally  perceptible 
to  the  eye  through  the  abdominal  walls  when  relaxed,  as 
while  the  bitch  is  sleeping ;  and  they  can  be  excited  by 
gentle  taps  with  the  fingers  and  felt  by  the  palm  of  the 
hand. 

But  when  a  bitch  is  heavy  with  pups  there  is  no  mistak- 
mg  the  fact,  hence  it  is  unnecessary  to  dwell  longer  upon 
the  characteristic  signs.  As  for  the  early  manifestations, 
as  already  stated,  the  earliest  upon  which  any  reliance  can 
be  placed  is  an  increase  in  size  and  change  in  the  shape  of 
the  uterus.  In  order  to  be  able  to  detect  this  when  it 
appears  examinations  of  the  abdomen  should  be  made 
from  time  to  time  with  deep  pressure  of  the  fingers,  the 
subject  meanwhile  lying  on  her  side  or  back,  by  which 
means  some  familiarity  with  the  usual  and  non-pregnant 
conditions  will  be  attained,  and  without  which,  of  course, 
variations  could  scarcely  be  made  out.  If,  now,  near  the 
fourth  week  there  can  be  felt  a  tumor  —  or  in  doubtful 
language  a  swelling  —  quite  deeply  within  the  abdomen, 
there  is  decided  possibility  that  this  tumor  or  swelling  is 
the  enlarging  uterus. 

This  evidence  having  been  detected,  if  in  the  course  of 
a  week  there  is  noticeable  to  the  eye  an  increase  in  the 
size  of  the  abdomen,  the  chances  of  pregnancy  are  de- 
cidedly good ;  and  as  these  changes  generally  quite 
speedily  disappear  or  grow  more  pronounced,  all  existing 
doubts  are  usually  dispelled  in  the  course  of  ten  days. 

But  the  inexperienced  reader  must  bear  in  mind  the 
fact  touched  upon  in  the  foregoing,  that  some  bitches  go 
through  the  entire  period  of  gestation  without  presenting 


234  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

a  single  sign  of  pregnancy  appreciable  to  the  ordinary- 
observer.  Yet,  as  already  stated,  these  cases  are  compar- 
atively rare  and  not  likely  to  occur  often  in  the  experience 
of  one  who  is  familiar  with  the  important  signs  herein 
considered.  At  the  same  time  he  who  doubts  his  ability 
to  make  a  correct  diagnosis,  in  the  absence  of  an  expe- 
rienced adviser,  will  do  well  to  take  the  same  precautions 
up  to  the  end  of  the  ninth  week  that  he  would  in  positive 
cases. 

Before  leaving  this  part  of  the  subject  it  is  well  to  touch 
upon  a  few  common  notions  in  relation  to  it.  One  is,  that 
the  size  of  the  abdominal  enlargement  is  indicative  of  the 
size  of  the  litter.  While  large  puppies  or  a  large  number 
of  puppies  is  the  rule  when  the  abdomen  is  greatly  enlarged 
and  settled  down,  yet  the  litter  or  the  puppies,  or  both, 
may  be  small. 

Many  breeders  must  have  noticed  instances  in  which 
were  presented  signs  of  pregnancy,  as  abdominal,  uterine 
and  breast  enlargement,  and  secretion  of  milk,  in  the 
ninth  week,  but  at  the  end  of  it  no  whelps  appeared.  In 
like  cases  there  would  be  every  reason  for  suspecting  that 
the  puppies  were  either  prematurely  born  dead  and  de- 
posited in  out-of-way  places,  or  the  whelping  was  normal 
and  the  offspring  fell  victims  to  the  puppy-eating  habit. 
And  a  discharge  of  blood  for  several  days  would  be  quite 
conclusive  evidence  that  one  of  these  misfortunes  had 
occurred. 

But  the  presence  of  milk,  while  corroborative  evidence 
in  such  cases  as  these,  alone  would  be  of  no  real  signifi- 
cance, for  many  bitches  that  are  not  in  whelp  have  milk  at 
the  ninth  week  from  season. 

Returning  to  the  essential  management  of  the  bitch  in 
pup  her  diet  must  engage  attention,  for  were  she  not  fed 
generously  and  on  nutritious  foods  it  would  be  impossible 


BEFORE    WHELPING.  235 

for  her  puppies  to  develop  properly  and  have  good  vitality 
at  birth.  Manifestly  her  requirements  in  the  way  of 
structure-building  materials  are  much  greater  now  than 
when  she  had  to  meet  merely  the  wear  and  tear  on  her 
own  body,  and  as  she  finds  these  in  very  considerable 
amount  and  convenient  state  in  animal  substances  only, 
assuredly  she  must  have  more  of  them  in  proportion  than 
when  not  in  pup.  But  mindful  of  the  facts  already  given 
great  prominence  in  chapters  devoted  to  feeding,  the  in- 
crease of  the  daily  amount  of  meat,  the  most  serviceable  of 
these  substances,  must  be  intelligent,  for  the  same  penal- 
ties are  inflicted  for  excess  now  as  before  impregnation. 

In  considering  the  use  of  this  food  the  matter  of  prep- 
aration being  of  great  importance  can  properly  come  first. 
Boiling  is  the  common  method  of  cooking,  and  against 
it  nothing  can  be  said  if  the  water  —  broth  —  used  in 
the  operation  is  fed  out  with  the  meat,  for  then  the  most 
of  the  virtues  of  the  food  will  have  been  saved,  and  espe- 
cially certain  salts,  extracted  by  the  water  during  cooking, 
which  the  mother  must  have'  to  pass  on  to  her  pup- 
pies. And  that  these  salts  are  indispensable  to  healthy 
osseous  growth  the  following  experiment  has  clearly 
demonstrated  :  — 

A  well-known  German  physician  selected  a  medium- 
sized,  strong,  healthy  bitch,  and  after  she  had  been  mated 
he  fed  her  on  finely  chopped  horse-meat  from  which  the 
salts  were  to  a  large  extent  extracted  by  boiling  for  two 
hours  in  distilled  water.  In  addition  to  this  she  was  given 
each  day  a  certain  quantity  of  tried  fat.  As  drink  she 
had  only  distilled,  water.  She  gave  birth  to  six  healthy 
puppies,  one  of  which  was  killed  immediately,  and  its 
bones  were  found  to  be  strong  and  well-built  and  free 
from  abnormalities.  The  other  puppies  did  not  thrive, 
but  remained  weak,  and  could  scarcely  walk  at  the  end  of 


236  KENNEL  SECRETS. 

a  month,  when  four  died  from  excessive  feebleness ;  and 
the  sixth  was  killed  two  weeks  later.  The  mother  in  the 
mean  time  had  become  very  lean  but  was  tolerably  lively 
and  had  a  fair  appetite.  She  was  killed  one  hundred  and 
twenty-six  days  after  the  beginning  of  the  experiment, 
and  it  was  then  found  that  the  bones  of  her  spine  and 
pelvis  were  softened  —  a  condition  known  to  physicians 
as  osteomalacia. 

The  results  of  this  experiment  are  highly  interesting 
and  instructive,  showing  clearly  as  they  do  that  the  nurs- 
ing mother  sends  out  to  her  young,  in  her  milk,  a  part  of 
her  store  of  lime,  which  is  absolutely  essential  to  their 
welfare.  They  show,  also,  that  if  proper  food  is  denied 
her  when  in  whelp  and  while  nursing,  not  only  her  pup- 
pies but  she  as  well  must  suffer  greatly  in  consequence. 
And  in  the  light  of  these  facts  is  uncovered  one  of  the 
most  potential  causes  of  rickets  so  common  among  large 
breeds. 

It  may  therefore  be  accepted  that  bitches  in  pup  must 
have  goodly  quantities  of  meat  ;  moreover,  that  while 
cooking  may  be  the  rule  if  the  broth  is  utilized,  it  is  a 
wise  plan  to  give  this  food  occasionally  in  the  raw  state. 

In  advising  this  the  writer  is  fully  alive  to  the  fact  that 
he  is  running  counter  to  a  strong  prejudice  that  exists 
among  no  small  number  of  breeders,  who  maintain  that 
raw  meat  will  cause  a  loss  of  the  puppies.  Such  theory, 
however,  is  opposed  to  reason  ;  furthermore,  experience 
long  ago  showed  its  absurdity.  And  another  product  of 
experience  is,  that  to  withhold  raw  meat  entirely  must 
greatly  intensify  the  danger  of  a  loss  of  the  offspring 
through  the  puppy-eating  habit. 

No  lengthy  consideration  of  the  relative  proportions  of 
meat  and  vegetable  and  starchy  foods  required  by  bitches 
in  pup  will  be  necessary  here,  for  the  laws  by  which  they 


BULt.  TERRIERS. 


:hGET«'OOI»  IVOXDER." 


•  TARQriX. 


AIREDALE   TERRIERS. 


'<  CH0r,>I03JI>El,EY  BRIAR. 


COLAE   CRACK.. 


BEFORE   WHELPING.  237 

must  be  regulated  are  practically  the  same  as  those  in 
force  when  young  are  not  being  carried.  And  although 
a  larger  proportion  of  that  important  animal  food  is 
demanded  it  cannot  safely  be  allowed  unless  the  con- 
ditions are  right.  Or,  in  other  words,  the  increase  must 
be  attended  by  an  increase,  in  corresponding  degree,  of 
the  amount  of  exercise.  And,  manifestly,  were  the  first 
requirement  met  and  its  associate  neglected  the  blood  of 
the  bitches  would  become  heated  up  and  in  consequence 
they  would  have  skin  eruptions  from  which  they  must 
suffer  great  annoyance,  whereas  at  such  trying  times  they 
should  be  not  only  healthy  but  undisturbed  and  restful. 
Moreover,  did  any  such  affections  due  to  internal  causes 
exist  during  the  period  of  gestation  they  would  be  either 
transmitted  directly  to  the  offspring,  or  there  would  be 
created  in  them  a  predisposition  or  special  liability  to  the 
same  disorders. 

The  giving  of  bone-meal  in  the  food  has  been  advised 
by  many  writers  to  supply  material  for  the  bones  of  the 
puppies  in  titero  and  prevent  the  accident  —  softening  and 
decay  of  the  bony  structure  of  the  mother  —  noted  by  the 
German  physician  whose  experiment  has  been  described. 
This  meal,  however,  is  of  doubtful  value  as  a  preventive, 
for  it  undergoes  only  slight  solution  in  the  intestinal 
canal,  but  to  give  the  precipitated  phosphate  of  lime  — 
a  product  of  bones  —  during  the  period  in  whelp  is  advisa- 
ble, especially  to  large  breeds,  the  offspring  of  which  in 
these  days  are  notoriously  "deficient  in  bone"  and  sin- 
gularly liable  to  suffer  from  rickets. 

This  agent,  which  is  a  white  powder  and  odorless  and 
tasteless,  should  be  given  once  daily  with  the  food  during 
the  first  month  of  gestation,  and  twice  daily  from  then 
on  until  the  puppies  have  been  weaned.  The  dose  usually 
advisable  for  the  largest  varieties  is  an  even  teaspoonful, 


238  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

but  this  can  safely  and  wisely  be  increased  during  the 
last  month  before  whelping  if  the  litter  promises  to  be 
very  large,  in  which  event  the  demand  upon  the  mother 
for  bone  material  must  be  unusually  great. 

Some  further  modifications  in  the  dietetic  regimen  will 
generally  be  necessary  with  her  who  is  carrying  young. 
If  she  has  been  habituated  to  one  meal  a  day  and  that  at 
night,  shortly  after  mating  the  custom  of  feeding  her  in 
the  morning  should  be  commenced.  The  breakfasts,  light 
at  first,  should  be  quite  generous  through  the  month 
preceding  the  whelping,  and  they  can  properly  consist 
largely  of  milk  thickened  with  bread  or  some  of  the  other 
starches  ;  and  he  is  wise  who  frequently  adds  one  or  two 
raw  eggs.  During  the  last  two  or  three  weeks  a  moderate 
lunch,  made  up  of  milk,  will  be  highly  appropriate,  nor 
will  it  be  necessary  to  thicken  it  with  other  foods.  But 
let  it  be  borne  in  mind  that  the  increase  in  the  quantity  of 
food  and  number  of  meals  should  be  made  cautiously  lest 
over-feeding  occur  and  the  appetite  be  impaired. 

If  a  mother  is  free  from  worms  at  the  time  of  whelping 
her  puppies  will  be  much  less  likely  to  suffer  from  these 
pests  during  the  earliest  months  of  life  ;  hence  a  mild 
vermifuge  can  wisely  be  given  about  the  sixth  week  after 
mating.  But  this  treatment  should  not  be  delayed  until 
the  last  week  before  whelping,  as  some  have  advised,  for 
obviously  the  straining  induced  by  the  cathartics  which 
must  follow  them  might  bring  on  labor  prematurely. 

As  for  the  vermifuge  to  be  employed,  areca  nut  is  one 
of  the  safest  and  most  efificient.  And  when  those  to  be 
treated  are  to  remain  and  whelp  in  their  usual  quarters 
they  should  be  temporarily  removed  to  others  while  the 
agent  is  acting. 

Every  expectant  dam  has  a  decided  preference  for  the 
kennel  which  she  has  long  occupied,  and  when  expedient 


BEFORE   WHELPING.  239 

she  should  be  allowed  to  remain  in  it.  If,  however,  she 
is  housed  with  other  dogs,  or  for  any  reason  beyond  this 
a  change  is  necessary,  it  should  be  made  soon  after  the 
seventh  week,  that  she  may  become  thoroughly  accus- 
tomed to  her  new  surroundings.  Were  she  left  to  follow 
her  own  tendencies,  when  the  eventful  time  came  she 
would  naturally  seek  some  retired  nook  or  corner,  out  of 
sight  and  hearing  of  her  kind  and  possibly  of  man  as  well 
—  a  fact  that  should  be  given  due  weight  in  selecting  her 
whelping  quarters.  But  isolation  must  not  be  enforced 
thus  early  at  the  expense  of  contentment,  and  if  she  mani- 
fests signs  of  loneliness  her  kennel  mate  if  she  has  one 
should  continue  with  her  and  remain  until  she  begins  to 
busy  herself  about  her  bed. 

If  she  cannot  be  permitted  to  run  at  large  during  the 
day,  as  has  been  urged,  it  is  imperative  that  she  be  taken 
out  frequently  and  given  gentle  exercise.  And  appreciat- 
ing the  dangers  of  physical  strain,  the  careful  owner  will 
see  to  it  that  her  enclosure  is  secure  and  she  cannot 
possibly  climb  out  of  it ;  also,  that  one  side  at  least  is  so 
constructed  that  she  will  be  able  to  look  out  without  being 
obliged  to  stand  on  her  hind  legs.  He  will,  moreover, 
dispense  with  the  sleeping-bench  and  lay  her  bed  on  a 
platform  made  of  smooth  boards,  and  raised  about  two 
inches  from  the  floor. 

When  the  conditions  are  normal  whelping  very  gener- 
ally occurs  on  the  sixty-third  day  after  mating,  yet  varia- 
tions of  one  day,  or  even  two  days,  either  way  are  not 
uncommon  and  have  no  real  significance. 

Two  or  three  days  before  the  eventful  period  is  expected 
the  whelping  quarters  should  be  thoroughly  cleaned  out 
and  washed  with  boiling  water,  for  the  purpose  of  disin- 
fecting them  and  destroying  all  eggs  of  worms  that  may 
happen  to  be  present.     The  bitch,  also,  should  be  treated 


240  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

for  like  purposes  before  she  is  returned  to  them,  and  with 
precipitated  sulphur,  the  same  being  freely  rubbed  into 
her  coat,  over  her  breasts,  and  in  fact  every  part  from  the 
tip  of  her  nose  to  the  end  of  her  tail. 

For  bedding,  perfectly  clean,  dry  straw  is  the  best 
where  a  platform  of  smooth  boards  is  used.  And,  by  the 
way,  there  should  always  be  two  or  three  platforms  pro- 
vided, for  then  frequent  change  will  be  possible,  and  each 
one  when  removed  can  be  washed  off,  disinfected  and 
thoroughly  dried  in  the  sun  before  it  is  again  required. 

On  the  subject  of  bed  and  bedding  for  whelping  bitches 
much  has  been  written  which  seems  invested  with  unwar- 
rantable prejudice.  Probably  the  kind  of  bedding  most 
often  used  is  a  piece  of  carpeting,  blanket  or  bagging, 
yet  bitches  rarely  take  kindly  to  such  and  almost  always 
tear  it  up  when  they  can  do  so,  or  scratch  holes  in  it 
unless  the  material  is  unusually  strong.  And  where  this 
has  been  done  puppies  have  been  many  times  caught  in 
the  folds  and  crushed  by  the  mother. 

Some  breeders  use  the  untanned  skins  of  beasts  for 
bedding,  while  others  prefer  to  have  the  whelping  occur 
on  dry,  clean  earth,  because  as  they  say  it  acts  as  a  disin- 
fectant ;  and  these  latter  maintain  that  puppies  do  far 
better  on  a  bed  of  this  sort  than  on  any  other.  But  such 
claims  are  extravagant.  If  soil  is  dry  it  must  get  into  the 
nose,  eyes  and  ears  of  puppies  and  cause  them  much 
annoyance  if  not  real  harm,  while  if  damp  it  means  death 
to  them  —  that  is,  if  they  are  of  the  nature  of  well-bred 
dogs  of  to-day.  Again,  cleanliness,  the  best  of  such 
agents,  is  all  in  the  way  of  disinfectants  that  is  required 
at  this  time,  and  certainly  under  no  other  condition  is  it 
easier  to  maintain  it  than  when  the  bed  is  a  platform, 
which  can  be  removed  at  once  after  whelping,  and  each 
day  following  if  necessary,  and  the  bedding  is  straw. 


AlKliUALK    TKltlllKK,    ••THE   AKW   Ki:VG." 


FOX   TERKIEIIS. 


AVIUE-HAIRi:i>.    ■•  VAM  i:i{.' 


IS  A  BY  >IIXEU." 


•GKOrSE  11.  ' 


BEFORE  WHELP /AG.  24 1 

With  not  a  few  breeders  the  final  preparatory  measure 
is  a  dose  of  castor  oil  or  other  cathartic,  which  they  give 
indiscriminately  in  every  case  on  the  day  before  whelping. 
This  treatment  has  so  many  advocates  it  is  necessary  to 
urge  that  it  is  advisable  only  when  severe  constipation 
exists,  also,  that  were  it  applied  in  instances  where  the 
discharges  were  soft  or  liquid  it  would  not  only  be 
superfluous  but  somewhat  hazardous,  since  it  might  cause 
diarrhoea  in  the  puppies.  And  this  would  very  likely 
happen  were  castor  oil  given,  for  a  portion  of  its  prin- 
ciple is  absorbed  and  goes  out  with  the  milk. 

Boiled  liver,  which  is  also  given  for  the  same  purpose, 
is  open  to  even  greater  objections  than  castor  oil  or  other 
medicinal  cathartic,  for  its  laxative  action  is  attained  only 
at  the  expense  of  digestion.  Being  exceedingly  rich  but 
few  stomachs  are  capable  of  disposing  of  any  considerable 
quantity,  and  given  generously  as  a  rule  it  generally  proves 
too  great  a  burden  for  them  ;  and  they  tiring  after  a  time 
pass  a  goodly  portion  of  it,  while  yet  only  partially 
digested,  on  to  the  intestines,  where  it  acts  as  any  foreign 
body  would  and.  sets  up  an  irritation.  After  which 
diarrhoea,  nature's  method  of  freeing  the  bowels  of 
troublesome  matters,  occurs,  and  it  is  several  days  before 
the  integrity  of  the  abused  organs  is  restored.  In  the 
mean  time  the  milk  is  more  or  less  vitiated  in  consequence 
of  the  indigestion,  and  very  generally  causes  a  like  disturb- 
ance in  the  nursing  puppies,  in  which  event  they,  also, 
suffer  from  colic  and  diarrhoea  —  symptoms  that  are  sin- 
gularly fatal  in  the  first  weeks  of  life. 

In  the  highest  order  of  animals  constipation  is  a 
common  affection  during  pregnancy,  and  the  popular 
theory  as  to  causation  is  that  it  is  produced  by  pressure 
of  the  enlarging  uterus  on  the  upper  part  of  the  rectum, 
by  which  not  only  is  its  calibre  diminished  but  its  action 


242  KENNEL  SECRETS. 

paralyzed.  A  familiarity  with  this  fact  has  doubtless  led 
to  the  inference  that  constipation  from  the  same  cause 
must  necessarily  exist  in  bitches  in  pup  and  as  urgently 
requires  treatment.  Yet  no  intimate  knowledge  of  canine 
anatomy  is  necessary  to  detect  its  fallacy,  and  certainly 
experience  tells  that  severe  constipation  is  very  rare  in 
pregnant  bitches  that  are  healthy  and  have  been  well 
cared  for. 

Therefore  let  the  reader  put  away  this  frozen  notion 
that  the  bowels  of  all  about  to  whelp  demand  interference, 
and  that  delivery  will  be  difficult  unless  they  are  emptied 
by  artificial  means.  He  can  accept  as  a  fact  that  only 
when  they  are  impacted  with  dry,  hard  waste,  or,  in  other 
words,  only  when  very  severe  constipation  exists  will  they 
obstruct  the  birth  of  the  puppies  ;  also,  that  all  ordinary 
accumulations  will  be  readily  expelled  in  the  violent 
straining  induced  by  the  labor  pains  long  before  the 
first  little  one  is  sent  into  the  world.  He  can  accept, 
moreover,  that  no  sound  mother  that  is  allowed  ample 
exercise,  is  properly  fed  and  has  free  access  to  good  whole- 
some drinking  water  is  likely  to  be  troubled  with  consti- 
pation sufficient  to  retard  labor.  But  should  one  so  suffer, 
an  injection  of  half  a  cupful  of  warm  sweet  oil  or  a  pint 
of  warm  water  is  the  only  remedy  he  will  be  required 
to  use. 


CHAPTER   IV. 


TREATMENT    OF    THE    MOTHER. 


Usually  on  the  day  before  whelping,  but  in  some  cases 
a  little  earlier,  there  occurs  a  very  noticeable  change  in 
the  bitch,  characterized  by  nervousness,  occasional  shiver- 
ing no  matter  how  warm  her  quarters,  dejection  —  as 
evident  from  her  listless  movements  and  the  grieved  and 
rather  despondent  expression  of  her  eyes  —  and  a  disposi- 
tion to  slink  away  when  at  liberty  to  do  so,  or  a  reluctance 
to  come  when  called  if  in  her  kennel.  She  also  manifests 
unwonted  concern  about  her  bedding,  which  she  frequently 
scratches  and  tumbles  about. 

These  signs  are  produced  by  the  first  pains  of  labor, 
and  when  they  appear  the  chances  are  that  if  all  is  well 
the  whelping  will  begin  within  twenty-four  hours. 

The  disposition  to  steal  away  to  a  retired  corner  has 
been  accepted  by  some  as  a  singular  impression  pro- 
duced by  parturition,  and  unmistakable  evidence  that  the 
bitch  urgently  desires  solitude  while  it  is  occurring,  con- 
sequently they  reason  that  she  should  be  isolated  and  left 
entirely  alone  until  it  is  over.     But  as  a  matter  of  fact  it 

243 


244  KENNEL  SECRETS. 

is  not  an  instinctive  tendency  peculiar  to  this  act,  for  it  is 
often  exhibited  in  other  experiences,  and  especially  those 
of  a  painful  nature.  For  instance,  dogs  when  suffering 
from  colic  are  very  apt  to  secrete  themselves  in  out-of-way 
places  and  there  remain  until  the  pain  has  subsided,  even 
if  the  happy  event  is  delayed  for  many  hours. 

The  reason  for  this  is  problematical,  but  to  the  careful 
and  experienced  observer  it  must  seem  as  though  the  dis- 
position was  the  product  of  several  influences,  including 
primarily  the  pain  and  the  same  fortitude  and  patience, 
but  in  higher  degree,  which  sustain  some  members  of 
the  human  family  while  suffering  intensely,  and  prompt 
them  to  suppress  as  far  as  possible  the  outward  tokens 
of  the  affliction.  It  would  seem  to  be  tinctured  also 
with  reproach,  —  which  would  not  be  unnatural  where 
prompt  relief  was  not  afforded,  —  for  it  is  seldom  mani- 
fested before  the  pain  has  been  on  for  several  hours, 
during  which  period  the  victims  if  house  pets  generally 
manifest  their  distress  by  occasional  whinings,  appeals  to 
be  taken  up,  etc.,  and  as  plainly  beg  that  something  be 
done  to  alleviate  it. 

If  this  assumption  is  correct  —  and  certainly  there  is 
nothing  improbable  in  it  — the  special  rule  to  leave  bitches 
absolutely  or  even  much  to  themselves  while  whelping 
will  not  admit  of  wide  application.  Nor  is  its  basis,  the 
original  instinctive  tendency  of  the  bitch,  a  sound  one,  for 
although  in  her  wild  state  she  naturally  sought  secluded 
places  that  her  young  might  remain  concealed  and  out  of 
the  way  of  harm,  this  fear  for  their  safety  must  have  been 
greatly  lessened  by  domestication  —  an  influence  far  more 
potent  than  is  generally  appreciated. 

Some  bitches,  of  course,  are  less  deeply  impressed  by 
this  influence  than  others,  for  the  reason  that  from  their 
earliest  days  they  have  been  confined  much  to  kennels, 


TREATMENT  OF  THE  MOTHER.  245 

and  in  these  the  old  tendency  to  hide  themselves  when 
about  to  whelp  must  be  still  quite  strong,  yet  it  can 
scarcely  be  strong  enough  to  resist  kindness  and  sympathy 
when  judiciously  tendered;  while  in  the  majority  of  their 
kind  that  have  been  humanely  treated  it  must  be  well-nigb 
extinct,  at  least  towards  those  to  whom  they  are  accus- 
tomed and  affectionately  inclined. 

Bearing  upon  this  point  the  experience  of  the  writer 
may  be  cf  interest  to  the  average  reader.  Between  his 
apartments  and  those  of  his  men  there  is  a  large  room  to 
which  with  only  rare  exceptions  his  brood  animals  were 
transferred  a  few  days  before  the  time  for  them  to  whelp, 
to  afford  him  ample  opportunity  for  observation  and  proper 
treatment  ;  and  although  many  have  been  temporarily 
quartered  there,  in  not  a  single  instance  has  he  noted  a 
sign  indicating  that  the  change  was  not  acceptable  ;  nor 
where  the  attendants  showed  due  solicitude  was  there 
exhibited  the  slightest  trace  of  a  disposition  to  slink  away. 

Hence  he  naturally  holds  to  the  belief  that  the  hard 
and  fast  rule  to  shut  in  bitches  when  their  whelpings- 
begin,  and  leave  them  alone  until  all  is  over,  is  extravagant 
and  inoperative  in  many  instances,  while  there  are  good 
and  sufficient  reasons  wh)'  oftentimes  they  should  have 
the  companionship  of  some  one  whom  they  care  for  if  it 
can  be  afforded. 

One  of  these  reasons  hits  the  pocket,  and  as  it  is  the' 
most  weighty  with  many  it  is  given  first  place.  Bitches 
of  large  size  should  be  watched  during  whelping  to  pre- 
vent them  from  crushing  their  puppies,  for  this  accident 
is  almost  sure  to  happen  unless  the  mothers  are  of  very 
small  and  light  bodies.  The  other  pronounced  reason 
has  appeared  in  the  foregoing,  namely,  that  bitches  will  in 
many  instances  crave  sympathy,  and  if  they  do  so  they 
should  have  abundant  expressions  of  it,  and  be  rubbed- 


246  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

soothed  and  encouraged  if  such  treatment  seems  grateful 
to  them. 

While  companionship  at  this  eventful  time  is  advo- 
cated, the  fact  is  kept  in  sight  that  in  some  instances 
bitches  urgently  desire  to  be  alone,  and  do  better  when 
so  ;  and  if  this  disposition  is  plainly  evident  the  breeder 
has  really  no  choice.  Yet  with  bitches  of  the  largest 
size,  at  least,  he  should  satisfy  himself  beyond  all  doubt 
that  to  intrude  would  be  decidedly  hazardous  for  them  ; 
and  if  he  exhibits  tact  he  will  only  rarely  find  such  to  be 
the  case,  but  after  a  short  time  the  sufferers  will  give  un- 
mistakable evidence  that  they  appreciate  his  solicitude 
and  are  grateful  for  his  attentions. 

Of  course,  there  are  not  a  few  breeders  who  give  them- 
selves no  concern  during  the  whelping  period  and  yet  have 
good  success,  but  probably  with  scarcely  an  exception 
theirs  are  brood  animals  of  small  or  medium  size,  for 
surely  no  one  could  successfully  breed  the  large  varieties 
in  this  convenient  way.  And  all  whose  first  experience  is 
before  them  may  accept  that  for  mastiffs,  St.  Bernards 
and  the  like,  the  most  painstaking  methods  of  manage- 
ment are  required,  especially  during  whelping  and  with 
the  puppies  until  long  after  weaning ;  consequently  they 
who  have  but  little  time  to  devote  to  their  dogs  should 
choose  much  smaller  varieties. 

Obviously  the  attendants  at  whelping  should  be  persons 
to  whom  the  bitches  are  deeply  attached,  for  in  some 
instances  they  are  very  nervous  indeed,  and  at  such  times 
are  generally  beyond  the  influences  of  all  but  their  best 
friends. 

For  this  condition,  by  the  way,  nervines  have  been  rec- 
ommended by  some,  but  they  are  simply  valueless  as  long 
as  the  cause  of  the  nervousness  exists,  and  to  pet,  soothe 
and  encourage  is  the  only  treatment  that  can  have  any 


TREATMENT  OF   THE  MOTHER.  247 

appreciable  effect ;  and  the  same  judiciously  applied  will 
soon  stimulate  that  fortitude  which  is  so  marvellously  great 
in  the  canine  race  and  do  much  to  restore  the  nervous 
system  to  its  wonted  balance. 

The  nervousness  may,  however,  be  carried  to  maniacal 
delirium,  during  which  bitches  are  entirely  beyond  control 
and  it  is  extremely  dangerous  to  interfere  with  them. 
Yet  they  are  never  likely  to  do  harm  if  left  entirely  to 
themselves.  And  such  attacks  are  fortunately  very  rare 
indeed,  and  seldom  occur  except  when  the  whelping  is 
protracted  and  the  suffering  intense.  Nor  do  they  often 
last  long,  but  are  generally  over  within  two  or  three  min- 
utes. This  was  about  the  duration  of  one  which  the 
writer  witnessed,  and  in  that  instance  the  victim  evidently 
saw  a  spectre  of  another  dog  intruding,  for  she  suddenly, 
and  without  any  premonitory  sign,  dashed  to  the  door, 
growling  and  biting  as  though  engaged  in  a  fierce  fight. 
But  after  the  short  period  stated  she  recovered  herself 
and  went  back  to  her  bed,  evidently  perfectly  sane. 

Leaving  the  vexed  question  of  attendance  and  going 
deeper  into  the  essential  treatment  of  the  mother  during 
and  immediately  after  whelping,  methods  will  be  advised 
which  the  writer  has  invariably  employed  in  breeding  sev- 
eral varieties  of  dogs,  with  the  largest  at  one  end  of  the 
line  and  toys  at  the  other.  They  will  be  alike  applicable 
to  all  bitches,  but  of  infinite  importance  with  the  largest 
varieties ;  and  although  some  of  them  may  seem  based  on 
sentiment  and  wanting  in  weight,  not  a  single  one  will 
appear  that  does  not  influence  success. 

Consequently,  he  who  breeds  should  apply  them  all. 
But  there  are  many  breeding  in  a  small  way  who  are 
forced  to  be  at  business  during  the  day,  and  it  is  only 
right  to  consider  herein  how  they  may  make  the  best  of 
their  opportunities. 


248  KENNEL  SECRETS. 

If  a  bitch  seems  to  favor  a  certain  place  for  whelping 
and  its  conditions  are  quite  favorable — that  is,  it  is  easily 
accessible,  snug,  warm  and  otherwise  healthy— her  choice 
should  be  accepted,  for  there  she  will  feel  more  contented. 
But  in  absence  of  any  decided  preference  she  should  be 
put  into  a  clean,  comfortable  room  or  pen  —  never  a  box 
which  will  not  easily  admit  her  owner  —  with  a  floor  space 
so  ample  and  a  platform  so  large  that  she  can  work  herself 
around  her  puppies  on  all  sides. 

As  the  degree  of  liability  of  a  bitch  lying  on  her  pup- 
pies depends  very  greatly  upon  the  size  of  her  platform  it 
should  always  be  large  enough  to  accommodate  several 
like  herself.  And  this  provision  seems  the  only  one 
which  promises  much  in  the  way  of  prevention,  although 
some  breeders  think  that  the  danger  can  be  still  further 
lessened  by  using  the  means  which  is  so  commonly 
employed  with  swine,  namely,  a  strip  of  board,  from 
four  to  six  inches  in  width,  around  the  room  at  just  the 
height  of  the  bitch's  back  when  lying  down. 

This  would  keep  her  out  from  the  walls,  and  if  a  puppy 
happened  to  be  caught  under  her  it  would  have  a  chance 
to  reach  the  space  beneath  the  ledge  and  escape.  Yet 
while  this  device  has  undoubtedly  some  advantages, 
whether  or  not  it  is  well  to  resort  to  it  is  an  open  ques- 
tion. The  ledge  must  be  very  low  or  the  bitch  would  try 
her  best  to  squeeze  under  it.  And  if  she  could  not  do  so 
she  would  be  liable  to  fret,  fearing  some  of  her  puppies 
were  away  from  her ;  and  every  time  she  got  up  to  hunt 
for  them  the  chances  of  her  getting  on  them  would  be 
much  increased.  Thus  one  might  intensify  the  danger  of 
the  accident  in  trying  to  prevent  it. 

Her  bed  made  up  and  the  bitch  provided  with  a  vessel 
of  clean,  fresh,  cold  water,  and  a  pan  of  milk,  —  with  a 
piece  of  ice  in  it  if  the  weather  is  hot,  lest  it  sour  before 


TREATMENT  OF   THE  MOTHER.  249 

night,  —  if  her  owner  must  leav^e  her  to  herself  he  can  go 
away  feeling  that  he  has  done  about  everything  possible 
to  anticipate  her  wants. 

And  now  to  consider  in  detail  the  treatment  which 
when  possible  should  be  given  the  mother  and  her  pup- 
pies at  the  time  of  whelping. 

Unless  the  weather  is  uniformly  mild,  at  this  eventful 
period  and  for  several  weeks  after  it  she  should  be  quar- 
tered in  a  room  furnished  with  ample  means  for  heating, 
and  for  twenty-four  hours  at  least  its  temperature  must 
not  fall  below  75°  Fahr.  ;  while  during  the  whelping  and 
until  all  the  puppies  are  thoroughly  dried  and  warm  it 
ought  not  to  be  below  80°. 

Each  puppy  is  born  in  a  bag,  which  consists  of  a 
smooth,  glistening  and  usually  very  thin  membrane,  and 
contains  more  or  less  watery  fluid  known  as  the  amniotic 
liquor.  This  bag,  while  sometimes  ruptured  during  labor, 
is  as  a  rule  expelled  intact,  and  when  so  the  mother  at 
once  proceeds  to  tear  it  open  with  her  teeth.  Having 
succeeded  she  licks  the  little  one  for  a  minute  or  two  — 
which  treatment  acts  as  a  stimulant  and  excites  vigorous 
movement — and  then  somewhat  leisurely  bites  off  the 
so-called  umbilical  cord,  one  end  of  which  is  attached  to 
the  middle  of  the  puppy's  abdomen,  and  the  other  to  what 
is  known  as  the  after-birth,  a  mass  that  looks  not  unlike 
a  large  clot  of  dark  blood.  The  cord  bitten  off,  she 
pushes  the  puppy  with  her  nose  around  to  a  more  con- 
venient situation,  continues  to  lick  it  for  a  time  and 
finally  snuggles  it  up,  generally  to  her  neck,  or  if  there 
is  a  person  in  the  room  who  she  thinks  may  take  it 
from  her  she  usually  endeavors  to  conceal  it  with  her 
head. 

Now  follows  a  period  of  relief  from  pain,  which  may  be 
short,  not  more  than  five  minutes,  or  much  longer,  and 


'2S0  KENNEL  SECRETS. 

cover  several  hours.  Half  an  hour,  however,  is  probably 
not  far  from  its  average  length  ;  and  during  the  greater 
part  of  it  the  mother  rests  quietly  and  may  even  seem  to 
sleep.  Towards  its  close  she  gets  up  and  unless  inter- 
fered with  eats  the  after-birth  and  membranes  that  consti- 
tuted the  bag,  and  again  lies  down.  The  pain  comes  on, 
another  puppy  is  born,  and  the  routine  described  is  again 
followed ;  and  so  on  to  the  end  of  the  whelping. 

During  these  operations  the  attendant  will  occasionally 
be  able  to  render  valuable  assistance,  but  he  should  never 
interfere  as  long  as  the  mother  is  doing  her  work  speedily 
and  well ;  and  when  he  does  so  he  should  be  gentle  and 
easy  in  his  movements  yet  act  with  firmness  and  without 
any  hesitation.  If  her  teeth  are  poor  or  she  is  "  under- 
shot "  —  as  in  the  case  of  bull-dogs,  and  quite  often  with 
mastiffs  —  it  will  not  be  easy  for  her  to  rupture  the  bags, 
and  even  having  sound  and  well-placed  teeth  it  may  be 
difficult  because  of  the  unusual  thickness  of  the  mem- 
branes. Obviously,  therefore,  this  part  of  her  duty 
should  be  promptly  met  and  the  puppies  quickly  freed, 
otherwise  they  must  soon  drown  in  the  water  in  which 
they  are  floating,  or  die  from  the  want  of  air. 

Where  the  mother  is  at  fault  the  remedy  is  easy,  for 
the  attendant  has  merely  to  tear  open  the  bags  by  pinch- 
ing a  side  with  his  thumbs  and  forefingers  ;  or  he  can  if 
he  prefers  use  scissors  or  knife,  which  may  be  required 
when  the  membranes  are  very  thick  and  resistant. 

The  severing  of  the  umbilical  cord  should  be  left  to 
the  mother  when  she  can  possible  attend  to  the  operation, 
for  it  contains  blood-vessels  that  require  just  the  treat- 
ment she  administers,  and  were  it  cut  by  a  sharp  instru- 
ment at  once  after  birth  hemorrhage  would  occur.  But 
if  she  fails  in  this  work  it  should  be  done  by  the  attend- 
int,  who  should  amputate  the  cord,  by  the  means  of  scis- 


FOX   TERRIKRS. 


ST\I{IH;^VS    Ki\«; 


BEVERWYCli    IM  AnTKR." 


Ril'OA    >.  ruK->Ii:R." 


\  i;si'viEXi¥E." 


FOX   TERRIERS. 

Old  riiainpions. 


■BELURAVE  JOE,"  in  his  13tli  year. 


"  SPICE." 


~.'y^_ 

\ 

kp 

"^ 

■^H&.^ 

^     1 

^jy  J  jH 

Im 

■OEI>   TRAP. 


VEsrviA^r.' 


"VEIVI." 


TREATMENT  OF  THE  MOTHER.  251 

sors,  about  three  inches  from  the  puppy's  abdomen. 
This  operation  can  be  performed  with  perfect  safety  five 
minutes  after  the  little  one  is  in  the  world,  for  circu- 
lation in  the  cord  will  then  have  ceased  and  the  blood- 
vessels collapsed. 

With  every  birth  the  mother  rises  on  her  forelegs  and 
twists  herself  to  reach  the  new-comer,  which  she  properly 
cares  for  and  pushes  around  in  front  of  her  before  she 
again  lies  down.  It  is  in  this  act  far  oftener  than  in  any 
other  that  she  crushes  her  puppies,  for  although  such 
contortion  is  never  very  easy  even  for  bitches  of  light 
build,  to  those  of  short  and  ponderous  bodies  it  evidently 
proves  extremely  tiresome,  and  although  they  mvariably 
try  to  prevent  it,  not  infrequently  they  fall  back  quite 
heavily  as  though  exhausted. 

Considering  which,  also  the  disposition  to  snuggle  the 
puppies  as  soon  as  they  are  born,  obviously  the  accident 
in  question  must  often  happen  unless  they  are  removed 
out  of  harm's  way.  And  this  is  always  best  with  large 
breeds,  which  are  never  disturbed  if  the  precaution  is 
taken  properly.  The  attendant  has  merely  to  provide  a 
shallow  basket,  containing  a  piece  of  well-warmed  flannel 
or  blanket,  and  in  this  place  the  puppies  as  soon  as  the 
cords  have  been  detached.  They  will  now  be  kept  warm, 
dry  quickly  and  gain  more  speedily  in  vitality  and  strength 
than  they  would  on  the  bed  with  the  mother  ;  and  if  the 
basket  is  placed  in  front  of  her,  where  she  can  easily  see 
into  it  while  lying  down,  she  will  not  be  likely  to  show 
any  concern  over  the  interference. 

The  whelping  over,  the  mother  will  lie  quietly  for  a 
short  time,  during  which  she  should  not  be  disturbed,  but 
when  she  gets  up  voluntarily,  all  being  in  readiness,  her 
platform  and  straw  —  now  wet  and  soiled  —  should  be 
removed,  the  floor  hastily  mopped   and  covered  with  saw- 


252  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

dust  where  damp,  and  a  dry  platform  and  fresh,  clean  and 
•dry  bedding  be  put  in. 

This  done,  and  the  soiled  parts  of  the  mother  hastily 
sponged  with  warm  water,  as  soon  as  she  has  lain  down 
the  puppies  should  be  taken  from  the  baskets  and  put  to 
her  breasts.  They  will  generally  require  some  assistance 
at  first,  and  if  so  let  it  be  rendered  as  follows  :  Take  the 
puppy  in  the  right  hand,  —  its  back  to  the  palm,  —  the  grasp 
being  well  forward  so  that  the  thumb  and  forefinger  reach 
to  the  little  one's  mouth.  Press  them  inward  back  of  the 
jaws,  and  so  open  the  mouth.  Now  with  the  thumb  and 
forefinger  of  the  other  hand  holding  the  nipple  its  insertion 
in  the  mouth  will  be  easy. 

Oftentimes  this  duty  will  greatly  tax  the  patience  of  the 
attendant,  but  he  must  persist  in  it  until  success  is 
reached,  for  unless  a  puppy  nurses  well  within  the  first 
two  or  three  hours  the  chances  are  much  against  its  liv- 
ing.    But  once  it  tugs  vigorously  it  may  be  left  to  itself. 

All  this  having  been  faithfully  done,  the  mother  if  of 
fairly  small  breed  may  be  left  for  a  time  with  her  puppies 
cuddled  up  to  her,  provided  her  bed  is  well  out  from  the 
walls  of  the  room,  for  were  it  close  to  one  of  them,  when 
she  got  up  the  little  ones  might  move  over  and  narrow 
the  space  between  them  and  the  wall,  and  choosing  this 
always  she  would  crowd  herself  into  it  and  very  likely 
crush  some  of  them.  If,  however,  she  is  of  large  breed, 
no  matter  how  favorable  her  situation,  she  ought  to  be 
watched  for  the  next  twenty-four  hours. 

This  is  the  period  of  greatest  danger,  and  after  it  the 
liability  to  the  accident  declines  rapidly,  but  it  only  ceases 
when  the  puppies  have  become  so  strong  that  they  can 
cry  out  and  make  vigorous  protest  if  the  mother  is  on 
them. 

Aside  from  this  danger  there  is  yet   another  that   is 


TREATMENT  OF  THE   MOTHER.  253 

occasionally  threatened  and  makes  watching  advisable, 
especially  with  all  that  are  mothers  for  the  first  time, 
namely,  the  puppy-eating  tendency,  which  is  very  strong 
in  some  bitches,  and  beyond  doubt  can  very  generally  be 
attributed  to  the  deprivation  of  meat,  although  now  and 
then  it  seems  due  to  love,  fear  or  other  passion  the  true 
nature  of  which  it  is  hard  to  determine. 

The  influence  of  the  first  as  a  cause  has  been  clearly 
demonstrated  in  a  large  number  of  cases  in  which  the 
deplorable  tendency  was  entirely  cured  by  feeding  gen- 
erously on  meat  during  the  period  of  gestation;  while 
that  it  can  be  excited  by  the  passions  is  evident  from  the 
following  instance  related  by  a  well-known  breeder. 

A  bitch  that  had  never  before  shown  any  such  tendency 
gave  whelp  to  seven  puppies  —  in  color,  six  black  and  one 
red.  Being  a  great  pet  the  members  of  the  family  visited 
her  often  and  made  much  of  her  little  ones,  until  at  last 
she  ate  all  the  black  ones. 

Certainly  into  this  case  the  question  of  diet  did  not  enter, 
for  meat  had  been  its  principal  ingredient  from  puppy- 
hood,  her  owner  being  strongly  prejudiced  against  all 
other  foods,  and  it  is  reasonable  to  assume  that  love  or 
fear  lead  her  to  do  as  she  did. 

In  evidence  that  other  passions  than  these  may  possibly 
cause  bitches  to  eat  puppies  the  writer  records  an  in- 
stance that  occurred  in  his  kennels.  A  bitch  had  a  litter 
of  eleven  puppies,  six  of  which  were  taken  from  her  and 
destroyed.  One  week  later  another  of  the  same  breed 
whelped  and  subsequently  lost  all  but  one  of  her  puppies, 
largely  in  consequence  of  neglect  on  the  part  of  the 
kennelman,  who  failed  to  detect  that  she  had  but  little 
milk.  The  facts  of  the  case  being  discovered  the  survivor 
was  put  to  the  breasts  of  the  first ;  and  she  resented  what 
she    evidently    considered    an    imposition    by  eating   the 


254  KENNEL  SECRETS. 

intruder  as  soon  as  he  was  left  alone  with  her,  notwith- 
standing he  was  then  three  days  old.  And  although  she 
afterwards  had  four  litters  during  the  time  she  remained 
in  the  kennels  this  is  the  only  instance  in  which  she  was 
guilty  of  such  an  act. 

When  bitches  have  been  fed  generously  on  meat  during 
gestation  the  chances  are  many  against  their  eating  their 
puppies;  but  still,  all  will  bear  watching  during  the  first 
twelve  hours  at  least,  and  then  those  that  have  never  ex- 
hibited the  tendency  with  previous  litters  can  be  consid- 
ered quite  safe  from  it.  But  a  bitch  once  guilty  should 
be  held  in  suspicion  until  the  second  day. 

It  is  well  to  add  that  many  breeders  are  strong  in 
the  belief  that  once  this  habit  is  indulged  it  will  persist 
and  the  victim  of  it  be  ever  afterward  worthless  for  breed- 
ing purposes.  This,  however,  is  a  mere  notion,  for  the 
tendency  can  be  overcome  by  a  meat  diet  and  careful 
watching,  and  if  one  litter  is  saved  the  subsequent  litter 
will  generally  escape,  the  habit  having  been  cured  by 
the  break. 

Surveillance  over  the  mother  during  the  first  hours 
after  whelping  should  be  as  quietly  enforced  as  possible, 
otherwise  it  must  be  irksome  and  perhaps  disturb  her 
greatly ;  and  instead  of  remaining  in  the  quarters  the 
attendant  will  do  well  to  make  seemingly  a  casual  visit 
occasionally,  or  have  a  peep-hole  through  which  without 
being  seen  or  heard  he  can  observe  how  affairs  are  going 
on  within.  And  when  visiting  her  he  must  not  break  in 
upon  her  suddenly,  but  as  he  nears  her  quarters  he  should 
walk  slowly,  call  her  by  name,  indulge  in  some  kindly 
expression,  and  so  prepare  her  for  his  coming. 

When  a  bitch  has  been  alone  during  her  whelping  it  is 
especially  important  that  this  course  be  pursued  on  the 
first  visits  whether  her  nature  is  amiable  or  otherwise,  for 


FOX   TKKKIKR,   "  .^OKFOLiK    lIAiVDICRAFT. 


FOX   TERItlKU.    "XOItroi.K   VKUACITY. 


SCOTCH   TKKRIERS. 


TKAZKU.' 


tii«i-:k." 


TREATMENT  OF  THE   MOTHER.  255 

at  such  times  good  dispositions  are  singularly  liable  to  be 
perverted.  It  should  be  the  rule,  also,  with  all  when  they 
approach  a  mother  to  devote  their  entire  attention  to  her 
at  first,  and  not  appear  to  notice  her  little  ones  until  after 
her  natural  distrust  has  been  dispelled  and  she  is  assured 
that  she  is  of  most  importance.  And  when  she  has 
allowed  the  visitor  to  fondle  her  she  will  not  object  to  his 
handling  her  puppies  a  bit  if  he  is  manifestly  very  careful 
in  doi'.ig  so. 

But  the  mother  should  not  be  interfered  with  nor  her 
puppies  handled  excepting  when  it  is  absolutely  necessary  ; 
and  above  all  from  their  birth  and  until  the  little  ones  are 
on  their  feet,  and  the  novelty  of  the  mother  has  entirely 
worn  off,  all  others  than  the  members  of  the  family  to 
whom  she  is  most  deeply  attached  should  be  excluded ; 
and  visits  from  them  even  should  be  "  few  and  far 
between  "  during  the  first  week. 

As  for  strangers  or  mere  acquaintances  who  may  hap- 
pen to  wish  to  see  the  recent  arrivals,  they  should  be 
impressed  with  the  fact  that  bitches  usually  inoffensive 
and  amiability  itself  are  sometimes  intensely  ugly  when 
with  puppies  ;  consequently  a  visit  by  them  might  result 
disastrously. 

While  a  bitch  is  whelping  there  should  always  be  at 
hand  a  vessel  of  cool,  fresh  water,  and  from  this  she  will 
take  a  few  swallows  almost  every  time  she  gets  up. 

If  her  labor  is  tedious  and  prolonged  she  must  be  given 
nourishment,  and  being  but  little  if  at  all  inclined  to 
eat,  milk  will  be  the  most  acceptable  and  best  at  this 
time. 

During  the  first  twenty-four  hours  after  whelping  a 
little  nourishment  should  be  given  every  four  or  five 
hours,  and  it  should  be  of  milk,  every  alternate  feeding 
being  thickened  with  bread  crusts  or  well-boiled  rice.     Or 


256  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

if  milk  does  not  seem  agreeable,  broths  can  be  substituted 
and  the  same  foods  used  for  thickening. 

For  the  second  day,  three  meals  will  be  quite  sufficient. 
And  as  early  as  this  it  is  very  generally  safe  to  begin  the 
use  of  solid  foods,  notwithstanding  the  popular  notion 
that  soups  should  be  wholly  relied  upon  in  the  first  and 
largely  during  the  second  week.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  as 
generally  prepared  such  products  of  meat  are  very  rich, 
and  if  frequently  given  they  disturb  digestion  and  loosen 
the  bowels.  And  these  effects  are  singularly  liable  to  be 
passed  on  to  the  puppies,  through  the  milk,  and  they  in 
consequence  made  to  suffer  from  diarrhoea,  which  in  them 
is  usually  attended  with  colic.  Manifestly,  therefore, 
these  foods  must  be  given  cautiously  ;  and  rarely  are 
they  allowable  oftener  than  once  daily;  while  if  the 
intestinal  discharges  are  liquid  they  should  be  withheld 
entirely. 

Milk  may  properly  be  the  basis  of  the  breakfasts,  and 
it  will  be  ample  support  if  fortified  by  bread  crusts,  crack- 
ers, or  dog  cakes  that  have  been  crushed,  soaked  in  cold 
water  and  then  boiled  for  a  time. 

As  some  breeders  give  their  bitches  very  large  quanti- 
ties of  milk  while  on  puppies,  with  the  idea  that  it  "makes 
milk,"  it  is  necessary  to  introduce  a  word  of  caution  here 
and  remind  the  reader  that  this  food  in  very  considerable 
quantities  will  often  cause  "  acid  stomach  ; "  and  this 
digestive  trouble  in  a  nursing  mother  is  quite  likely 
to  render  her  breast  milk  highly  acid.  Consequently, 
only  moderate  quantities  of  milk  should  be  allowed  at  any 
one  time,  and  it  is  advisable  to  add  lime  water  to  it,  in  the 
proportions  of  from  one-half  to  two-thirds  of  a  teacupful 
to  every  pint. 

Unless  the  discharges  show  that  they  are  contra-indi- 
cated, broths  can  constitute  the  midday  meals,  provided 


TREATMENT  OF   THE  MOTHER.  2$/ 

they  are  thickened  with  bread,  well-cooked  rice,  barley 
or  other  light  starchy  food,  and  at  least  one-fourth  of  the 
whole  is  meat. 

Another  word  of  caution  here.  Beef  trimmings  and 
bones  are  very  generally  used  for  making  soups  or  broths, 
and  these,  as  a  rule,  contain  much  fat,  which  when  cooked 
is  somewhat  of  a  tax  upon  the  digestive  organs  of  even 
sound  dogs,  and  much  too  great  a  burden  for  bitches  that 
have  recently  whelped.  Moreover,  this  fat  might  cause 
excessive  acidity  of  the  breast  milk.  Consequently,  in  all 
instances  the  soups  or  broths  should  be  allowed  to  stand 
until  cold  and  then  treated  to  a  faithful  skimming. 

The  last  feed  of  the  day  should  be  practically  a  solid 
one,  and  consist  of  finely  chopped  beef  or  mutton  in  the 
proportion  of  one-half  ;  while  the  other  half  should  be 
made  up  of,  say,  one-third  vegetables,  one-third  bread 
and  one-third  well-boiled  rice  or  oatmeal. 

As  broth  is  required  to  soften  the  starches  it  is  neces- 
sary to  cook  the  most  of  the  meat,  yet  about  twice  a  week 
a  goodly  proportion  of  this  food  may  be  in  the  raw  state. 
For  instance,  instead  of  all  being  cooked,  half  of  the  meat 
given  for  supper  can  be  raw  ;  but  it  must  be  finely  minced,, 
and  with  the  two  kinds  should  be  mixed  vegetables  and 
starchy  foods  in  the  same  proportion  as  when  all  the  meat 
allowed  is  cooked. 

Meat  is  often  withheld  from  members  of  the  human 
family  while  they  are  liable  to  acute  inflammations,  as 
immediately  after  surgical  operations,  severe  traumatic 
injuries,  parturition,  etc.,  and  this  fact  has  led  some  to 
assume  that  it  should  be  given  only  sparingly,  if  at  all, 
to  bitches  in  the  puerperal  state,  for  fear  of  adding  to  the 
liability  of  fever.  But  analogical  reasoning  in  this  in- 
stance is  clearly  unsound,  and  it  is  a  fixed  fact  that  when 
a  dog  is  weakened  by  disease,  accident  or  other  cause,  as- 


258  KENNEL  SECRETS.     . 

long  as  his  stomach  can  digest  it  no  other  food  will  give 
him  such  solid  support  as  meat,  or  as  quickly  restore  the 
vitality  he  has  lost.  Nor  is  there  any  other  food  which 
he  can  digest  with  greater  ease  at  such  times.  Beyond 
this,  puerperal  fever  is  extremely  rare  among  bitches,  and 
scarcely  ever  occurs  except  in  consequence  of  a  dead 
puppy  being  retained  in  utero,  severe  mechanical  injury 
or  exposure  to  intense  cold. 

All  nursing  mothers  should  be  at  liberty  to  go  and 
come  as  they  please,  unless,  of  course,  they  are  wanting 
in  solicitude  for  the  puppies.  But  they  rarely  are  so,  and 
in  fact  the  majority  must  be  urged  to  take  gentle  exer- 
cise at  least  during  the  first  week.  And  such  being  the 
case,  after  her  puppies  are  two  or  three  days  old  the 
mother  should  be  taken  out  and  walked  about  near  the 
house  every  morning  and  afternoon  when  the  weather  is 
mild  and  the  ground  dry.  These  outings  should  be  made 
as  enjoyable  as  possible  that  she  may  not  be  uneasy  about 
her  little  ones ;  and  after  the  first  week  should  she  still 
apply  herself  too  closely  the  amount  of  exercise  should  be 
gradually  increased  from  day  to  day. 

A  word  further  in  regard  to  the  after-birth,  which,  as 
already  stated,  is  eaten  by  the  mothers.  Nature  prompts 
them  to  dispose  of  it  in  this  way  ;  but  she  seemingly 
ignores  the  changes  in  condition  wrought  by  domes- 
tication. It  is  easy  to  understand  why  the  untamed 
mother  should  have  had  this  propensity,  for  in  gratifying 
it  she  provided  herself  with  nourishment  sufficient  to 
sustain  her  until  the  immediate  effect  of  her  painful  ex- 
periences had  passed  off  and  she  had  recovered  strength 
and  was  again  able  to  hunt  for  food.  But  with  ample 
nourishment  at  hand  the  tendency  in  question  seems  a 
perversion  of  the  appetite,  and  it  is  safe  to  say  that  it  can 
properly  be  obstructed  if  one  cares  to  interfere.     To  the 


TREATMENT  OF  THE  MOTHER. 


259 


writer  this  method  of  disposing  of  the  after-birth  is  most 
repugnant ;  therefore  his  rule  has  been  to  have  it 
burned,  and  no  ill  effects  have  been  noted  in  the  mothers. 
But  upon  this  point  he  fully  realizes  that  he  may  be  a 
victim  of  sentiment,  hence  refrains  from  advising. 


CHAPTER   V. 


CARE    OF    THE    NEW-BORN. 


Early  spring  is  far  the  most  favorable  season  for  whelp- 
ing, since  ere  the  youngsters  have  reached  the  weaning  they 
can  be  put  out  of  doors  for  a  few  hours  at  least  on  all  pleas- 
ant days,  where  they  are  sure  to  gain  in  health,  strength 
and  vitality  with  infinitely  greater  rapidity  than  when  be- 
tween walls.  Breeders  of  long  experience  fully  appreciate 
this  fact,  also,  that  where  open  and  pure  air  and  sunshine 
are  denied  during  the  early  days  of  life  the  future  is 
greatly  prejudiced  ;  consequently  they  have  a  decided 
preference  for  those  brood  animals  that  come  in  use  dur- 
ing the  first  three  or  four  months  of  the  year.  And 
where  the  rule,  fixed  with  some,  to  mate  only  in  this 
period  is  observed,  the  puppies  not  only  do  not  require 
such  extreme  care  and  attention  but  thrive  infinitely  bet- 
ter, while  being  far  on  the  road  to  maturity  they  are  well 
fortified  against  cold  weather  before  it  sets  in. 

If  warm,  clean  and  well-ventilated  quarters  are  provided 
it  is,  of  course,  possible  to  rear  winter  puppies,  yet  even 
in  the  presence  of  these  conditions  they  scarcely  ever  do 
as  well  and  develop  into  as  hardy  specimens  as  those  much 

260 


CARE   OF   THE  NEW-BORN.  26 1 

beyond  walls  ;  and  it  can  safely  be  accepted  that  the  ex- 
ceptions are  seldom  met  with  among  the  largest  and 
heaviest  varieties,  which  are  ever  likely  to  prove  flat  fail- 
ures unless  under  the  most  healthful  influences  from  the 
very  first. 

In  the  fact  that  for  several  days  they  are  very  feeble 
and  extremely  sensitive  to  cold  appears  one  of  the  first 
great  dangers  encountered  by  puppies  born  in  inclement 
seasons  ;  hence  the  advice  in  the  foregoing  chapter,  that 
during  the  whelping  the  temperature  of  the  room  be  about 
80°  Fahr.  And  this  degree  should  be  maintained  until  the 
little  ones  —  very  wet  when  they  come  into  the  world  — 
have  thoroughly  dried  and  gained  measurably  in  vitality. 
Then  the  temperature  may  be  allowed  to  fall  to  75°, 
where  it  should  stand  until  the  following  day.  After  that, 
if  the  puppies  are  vigorous  they  ought  to  be  able  to  bear 
a  temperature  of  70°.  But  no  lower  degree  will  be  safe 
for  the  next  four  weeks  ;  nor  will  any  very  considerable 
fall  be  allowable  before  the  fifth  or  sixth  month. 

These  limits  are  set  for  fairly  hardy  breeds,  yet  there 
are  some,  black-and-tans,  Italian  greyhounds  and  other 
toys,  for  instance,  which  require  a  higher  degree  of 
warmth.  In  fact  these  varieties  can  scarcely  be  too  warm 
during  the  earliest  days  of  life. 

It  can  safely  be  accepted  that  if  a  puppy  becomes 
chilled  during  the  first  two  or  three  days  the  chances  are 
nearly  all  against  recovery,  also  that  when  this  happens  in 
a  room  kept  as  warm  as  it  ought  to  be  the  victim  is  natu- 
rally weakly,  and  even  were  warmth  restored  it  would 
scarcely  be  possible  to  rear  him. 

Doubtless  inferring  as  much  from  the  limitations  of  the 
human  mother,  whose  milk  secretion  is  often  as  long 
delayed  without  injury  to  her  child,  some  who  have 
publicly  discussed  the  subject   of    breeding  have   stated 


262  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

that  the  secretion  of  milk  in  the  canine  mother  may  be 
delayed  from  twenty-four  to  forty-eight  hours  and  yet  be 
within  the  normal  limits.  But  the  obvious  method  of  rea- 
soning is  not  justified  in  this  instance,  and  certainly  the 
assumption  is  wholly  at  variance  with  experience,  which 
has  shown  that  in  the  majority  of  cases  milk  forms  in  the 
breasts  of  the  latter  before  birth ;  also,  that  new-born 
puppies  must  be  put  to  them  as  soon  as  possible,  for  where 
they  have  failed  to  nurse  within  the  first  few  hours  of  life 
they  have  very  generally  died. 

While  milk  is  usually  present  at  birth  the  supply  is 
seldom  abundant  in  the  first  twenty-four  hours,  during 
which  period,  fortunately,  puppies  are  easily  satisfied  ; 
but,  as  a  rule,  under  their  vigorous  nursing,  which  acts 
as  a  potent  stimulant,  the  quantity  soon  becomes  greater, 
and  afterwards  keeps  pace  with  their  increasing  demands. 
Cases  are  not  infrequent,  however,  where  the  breasts  fail  to 
respond  as  they  ought  and  their  supply  remains  scanty ; 
in  which  event  the  mother  must  be  encouraged  to  drink 
freely  of  liquids,  as  milk,  gruel,  water,  etc.,  for  the  purpose 
of  securing  an  increase.  And  such  efforts  must  not  be 
delayed  until  they  are  clearly  demanded,  but  be  made  as 
soon  as  there  appears  the  barest  reason  for  suspecting 
that  the  supply  will  be  insufficient. 

This  treatment,  while  of  value  in  some  cases,  is,  however, 
far  more  often  ineffectual  than  effectual,  no  matter  how 
faithfully  applied,  consequently  to  rely  upon  it  solely  would 
be  extremely  hazardous,  and  in  all  instances  preparations 
should  be  promptly  made  to  nourish  the  puppies  artificially 
in  the  event  their  mother  fails  them. 

Unfortunately  it  is  impossible  even  twenty-four  hours 
after  whelping  to  determine  positively  whether  the  quan- 
tity of  milk  will  be  large  or  small ;  but  still  products  of 
experience,  far  from  being  certain,  however,  enable  breeders 
to  form  a  probable  diagnosis. 


CARE  OF  THE  NEW-BORN.  265 

The  outlook  may  be  considered  favorable  if  at  this  time 
the  breasts  are  large  and  a  fairly  good  flow  of  milk  has 
been  established.  The  chances  are  also  increased  some- 
what where  puppies  have  been  previously  born,  for  in 
many  instances  the  quantity  of  milk  is  notably  greater 
after  the  second  and  third  litters  ;  and  it  would  seem  that 
in  certain  mothers  it  grew  more  abundant  after  every 
whelping,  up  to  the  fourth  or  fifth  year. 

The  kind  and  amount  of  food  also  bear  upon  this  ques- 
tion, —  more  heavily  even  than  the  age,  —  and  in  all  cases 
where  the  mother  has  not  been  wisely  and  generously  fed 
during  gestation  a  scanty  supply  of  milk  is  the  rule,  while 
in  exceptions  to  it,  in  which  there  is  an  abundance  of  milk 
after  whelping,  its  early  decline  in  quantity  or  quality,  and 
generally  both,  may  be  confidently  expected.  Again,  the 
health  of  the  nursing  mother  is  a  matter  of  infinite  im- 
portance, and  the  fact  need  not  be  urged  that  if  her  con- 
stitution is  poor  or  she  is  a  victim  of  harassing  and 
debilitating  disease  her  milk  supply  can  never  be  abundant ; 
moreover,  that  what  little  she  has  will  be  vitiated  and 
unwholesome  if  not  absolutely  poisonous. 

Summarizing  briefly,  for  the  purpose  of  emphasizing  the 
first  essentials  brought  out  in  the  foregoing  :  The  puppies 
should  be  put  to  the  breasts  and  made  to  nurse  if  possible 
as  soon  as  the  whelping  is  over  and  the  bedding  has  been 
changed.  Duly  considering  the  facts  stated,  an  estimate 
should  be  made  of  the  chances  of  having  a  goodly  supply 
of  milk,  and  if  they  seem  poor  everything  needful  should 
be  at  once  obtained  and  kept  in  readiness  to  nourish  arti- 
ficially as  soon  as  indications  for  such  treatment  appear. 

As  for  signs  manifested  by  little  ones  that  are  denied  suf- 
ficient milk,  their  abdomens  instead  of  being  well  rounded 
out  and  somewhat  resistant  to  pressure  are  quite  flat,  the 
walls  being  relaxed  and  flaccid  ;  they  sleep   much  of  the 


264  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

time  and  seem  unwilling  to  make  any  attempt  to  nurse, 
and  when  taken  in  the  hands  are  limp  and  feeble.  These 
symptoms  in  the  main  are  those  of  weakness  and  may  be 
occasioned  by  a  large  variety  of  influences,  yet  the  condi- 
tions of  the  mother's  breasts  being  questionable  they  must 
point  to  starvation  as  the  cause. 

Breeders  generally  seem  impressed  with  the  idea  that 
most  canine  mothers  suffer  from  milk  fever,  yet  this  is  by 
no  means  the  rule  where  puppies  are  born  alive  and  con- 
tinue to  live  and  nurse  vigorously  during  the  next  forty- 
eight  hours.  And  the  reason  why  they  so  often  escape 
appears  in  the  fact  that  they  begin  to  suckle  their  young 
very  soon  after  whelping,  consequently  their  breasts  are 
seldom  very  much  swollen  even  when  the  milk  is  abundant. 

Where  puppies  that  have  reached  an  advanced  stage 
of  gestation  are  born  dead  or  die  shortly  after  delivery, 
usually,  but  not  invariably,  all  the  phenomena  of  milk 
fever  manifest  themselves,  i.e.,  the  breasts  become  much 
swollen  and  evidently  painful,  the  skin  is  hot  and  dry  and 
the  pulse  quickened  ;  there  are  thirst,  loss  of  appetite  and 
a  decided  disinclination  to  activity.  Of  these  symptoms 
generally  the  fever  and  acceleration  of  pulse  are  the  first 
to  disappear,  and  in  the  course  of  from  twenty-four  to 
forty-eight  hours,  at  which  time  the  breasts,  although 
still  greatly  distended,  are  evidently  less  acutely  painful. 
The  rapidity  with  which  the  swelling  in  them  subsides 
depends  much  upon  the  treatment,  but  even  when  none 
is  applied  the  natural  state  of  things  is  generally  restored 
ere  the  end  of  a  week. 

The  dangers  of  this  and  other  fevers  after  whelping 
have  been  very  greatly  exaggerated,  and  in  consequence 
the  notion  is  prevalent  that  all  mothers  should  be  kept  on 
low  diet,  and  especially  "  sloppy  foods,"  for  the  first  two 
or  three  days  at  least,  as  a  preventive  measure  ;  whereas 


CARE    OF   THE  NEW-BORN.  265 

milk  fever  is  not  in  the  slightest  degree  dangerous,  and 
deserves  consideration  only  where  the  puppies  have  been 
lost.  And  even  then  it  occasions  discomfort  merely.  As 
for  puerperal  fever,  the  only  fever  peculiar  to  the  whelping 
state  which  need  disturb  the  minds  of  apprehensive  breed- 
ers, that  is  very  rare  in  canine  mothers,  and  a  person  may 
breed  extensively  for  years  without  seeing  a  case  of  it. 

Where  the  puppies  are  lost  and  milk  fever  occurs  it  is 
eminently  right  and  proper  that  treatment  be  applied  for 
the  purpose  of  lessening  the  mother's  discomforts.  But 
"  sloppy  foods,"  which  are  so  generally  supposed  to  be 
the  least  favorable  to  inflammation  and  fever,  are  the  very 
ones  that  must  not  be  given  in  this  instance,  for  they  would 
surely  tend  to  increase  the  secretion  of  milk  and  so  inten- 
sify the  existing  trouble.  And  the  same  can  be  said  of 
water  merely.  Consequently  for  several  days  the  patient 
should  have  such  foods  as  boiled  rice,  broken  dog  cakes 
or  well-baked  bread  crusts,  —  in  limited  quantity  always,  — 
softened  by  a  little  milk  or  broth,  and  be  allowed  water 
only  at  intervals  of  five  or  six  hours,  and  then  even  but  a 
little  at  a  time. 

If  her  breasts  are  badly  swollen  and  what  is  popularly 
termed  "caked,"  the  mother  should  be  quartered  in  the 
kitchen  or  other  convenient,  well-warmed  place  until  her 
discomfort  has  abated.  During  the  day  hot,  dry  flannels 
should  be  applied  to  her  breasts  for  fifteen  or  twenty 
minutes  at  a  sitting,  and  the  application  be  repeated  as 
often  as  possible ;  while  at  night  they  should  be  gently 
rubbed  with  camphorated  oil,  the  same  being  used 
generously. 

Notwithstanding  the  notion  that  cathartics  are  always 
required  in  cases  of  this  sort,  neither  these  nor  any  other 
drugs  need  be  given,  for  under  the  simple  treatment 
advised  very  considerable   improvement  will   take   place 


266  KENNEL  SECRETS. 

within  forty-eight  hours,  and  the  milk  "  dry  up "  as 
quickly  as  under  dosing.  And  it  is  well  to  add  that  the 
breast  pump  must  not  be  used  in  these  cases,  for  while 
it  would  afford  temporary  relief  it  would  greatly  retard 
recovery. 

Only  rarely  are  mothers  wholly  destitute  of  milk  in  the 
first  days  after  whelping,  but  not  infrequently  it  happens 
that  the  supply  is  far  from  sufficient  for  all  the  puppies, 
and  in  no  small  number  of  instances  the  flow  is  abundant 
at  first  and  then  lost  altogether  in  the  course  of  a  week  or 
two  ;  in  which  cases  it  is  necessary  either  to  provide  a 
foster  mother  or  nourish  artificially  —  alternatives  that 
are  extremely  vexatious  and  generally  difficult  to  meet. 

Those  who  have  large  kennels  and  breed  extensively 
are  to  some  extent  fortified  against  these  accidents,  for 
very  often  they  have  two  or  more  bitches  come  in  at  about 
the  same  time  and  if  the  milk  of  one  is  insufficient  or 
lost  she  is  assisted  or  her  entire  duty  assumed  by  the  for- 
tunate mother  or  mothers.  But  in  the  absence  of  such 
happy  conditions  it  is  extremely  difficult  and  more  often 
than  otherwise  impossible  to  obtain  a  suitable  foster 
mother. 

If  a  mother  lost  her  last  litter  because  of  failure  of  her 
milk  supply  it  by  no  means  follows  that  she  will  be  as 
unfortunate  with  her  next,  still  her  owner  should  have  a 
foster  at  hand  to  prevent  this  accident  if  again  threatened. 
And  he  who  has  a  bitch  of  great  value  and  has  paid  a 
large  price  for  "  service  "  can  wisely  do  likewise,  for  the 
chances  are  many  that  even  were  the  assistant  not  an 
imperative  necessity  she  might  yet  be  used  to  very  great 
advantage  and  prove  a  profitable  investment,  —  results,  by 
the  way,  that  may  confidently  be  expected  where  this 
provision  is  made  for  first  litters. 

Foster  mothers  can  generally  be  obtained  for  trifling 


CARE  OF  THE  NEW-BORN.  267 

sums,  but  very  rarely  indeed  within  a  day  or  even  a  week ; 
therefore  they  should  be  sought  for  early  ;  and  the  course 
that  suggests  itself  as  the  easiest  and  surest  is  to  adver- 
tise  the  want  in  the  kennel  papers  at  least  a  month  before 
the  bitches  they  are  to  assist  are  expected  to  whelp. 

Quality  need  not  enter  into  the  considerations  in  choos- 
ing a  foster  mother,  for  a  mongrel  will  do  as  well  as  a 
pure  breed,  and  perhaps  better.  Nor  is  the  question  of 
size  a  very  important  one,  notwithstanding  some  breeders 
insist  that  the  two  mothers  should  be  of  about  the  same 
size ;  and  while  it  is  better,  of  course,  that  they  be  nearly 
so,  or  the  foster  the  larger,  a  difference  in  the  other  direc- 
tion need  not  weigh  heavily  unless  very  great. 

But  it  is  of  the  highest  importance  that  the  foster 
mother  be  in  good  health,  and  imperatively  necessary  is  it 
that  she  be  not  only  absolutely  free  from  mange  and  other 
contagious  affections  but  that  there  exist  not  the  slightest 
danger  of  her  being  the  carrier  of  disease.  For  instance, 
did  she  belong  to  a  kennel  in  which  there  were  or  had 
recently  been  cases  of  distemper,  although  she  herself 
might  be  perfectly  safe  from  the  disease  she  would  yet  be 
ineligible,  since  she  would  likely  transmit  the  germs  in 
her  coat. 

With  due  regard  to  possible  irregularities  in  the  duration 
of  gestation,  it  is  advisable  that  the  foster  mother  be  due 
to  whelp  about  a  day  earlier  than  the  bitch  whose  duties 
she  may  be  called  upon  to  assume.  Yet  nice  adjustments 
need  not  be  attempted,  for  milk  three  or  four  days  older 
than  that  of  the  adopted  is  generally  well  borne,  and,  in 
fact,  instances  are  not  infrequent  where  puppies  in  the 
first  or  second  days  of  life  do  well  on  milk  from  a  week 
to  ten  days  old. 

As  for  puppies  that  are  in  the  last  part  of  the  first 
week,  milk  even  three  or  four  weeks  old  is  often  kindly 


268  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

received  by  them.  And  in  one  case  the  writer  put  pup- 
pies of  this  age  to  the  breasts  of  a  mother  and  brought 
back  her  milk,  which  had  nearly  all  disappeared,  after  she 
had  weaned  her  own  litter. 

Another  case  of  even  greater  interest  than  this  was  that 
of  a  Gordon.  Some  five  months  after  whelping,  one  of  her 
mates,  a  toy,  had  a  litter  of  puppies,  of  which  this  setter 
at  once  'became  very  fond.  And  as  she  was  entente  cor- 
diale  with  their  mother  she  was  permitted  to  pass  much 
of  her  time  with  them  and  snuggle  them  as  she  would  her 
own.  Very  strangely,  indeed,  ere  the  end  of  the  second 
week  —  and  doubtless  in  consequence  of  frequent  tugging 
by  the  puppies  —  milk  appeared  in  her  breasts,  which 
were  absolutely  dry  when  these  little  ones  were  born  ; 
and  she  nursed  them  regularly  until  weaned.  More  than 
this,  after  the  toys  had  been  weaned,  two  mastiffs  about 
a  week  old  were  put  to  her  breasts,  and  these,  also,  she 
carried  to  the  weaning. 

Considering  that  delay  is  extremely  liable  to  prove 
fatal,  obviously  the  transfer  of  the  puppies  to  the  foster 
should  be  made  as  soon  as  signs  appear  indicating  that 
their  mother  will  be  unable  to  nourish  them.  And  the 
fact  deserves  emphasis  that  to  wait  for  positive  proof  in 
this  instance  is  always  hazardous. 

As  to  disposal  of  the  foster's  puppies,  if  they  are  worth 
raising  efforts  should  be  made  to  nourish  them  artificially, 
otherwise  they  should  be  given  to  the  suspected  mother, 
and  in  case  her  milk  takes  on  an  increase  some  of  her 
own  little  ones  can  be  returned  to  her. 

In  discussing  this  subject  it  is  quite  the  custom  to  inti- 
mate that  it  is  a  hard  task  to  induce  foster  mothers  to  do 
their  duty  by  their  charges,  yet  the  writer's  experience  is 
at  variance,  and  only  in  one  instance  has  he  encountered 
any  difficulty,  although  he  has  made  many  transfers,  while 


CARE   OF  THE  NEW-BORN.  269 

in  this  exceptional  case  the  introduction  was  so  abrupt 
and  due  formalities  so  slighted  the  results  occasioned  no 
surprise. 

A  wise  course  to  pursue  in  making  the  transfer  is  to 
remove  both  litters,  put  all  the  puppies  into  the  same 
basket  and  keep  them  together  for  several  hours.  In  the 
mean  time  the  breasts  of  the  foster  mother  will  fill  up,  and 
the  distension  causing  her  some  discomfort,  she  will  gen- 
erally receive  the  strangers  as  cordially  as  she  would  her 
own.  If,  however,  to  delay  is  dangerous  they  should 
simply  be  put  to  her  breasts  and  she  be  made  to  under- 
stand that  she  has  no  choice  in  the  matter.  Careful 
watching  will,  of  course,  be  advisable  for  a  time,  but  if 
all  goes  well  the  first  day  no  uneasiness  need  be  felt 
thereafter. 

Puppies  can  be  fed  by  means  of  a  spoon  or  nourished  in 
the  same  way  as  infants  deprived  of  their  mother's  milk. 
And  in  event  of  the  latter,  which  is  the  easier,  the  appara- 
tus used  should  consist  of  merely  a  small  bottle  and  rub- 
ber nipple,  in  the  top  of  which  has  been  placed  a  small 
piece  of  perfectly  clean  sponge,  which  fits  easily  without 
compression.  But  as  most  of  the  nipples  found  in  shops 
have  such  small  holes,  and  the  milk  does  not  flow  as  freely 
as  it  ought,  it  will  be  necessary  to  enlarge  one  or  more  of 
them  to  about  the  size  of  a  "  darning  needle." 

Puppies  that  are  nourished  artificially  require  feeding 
nights  as  well  as  days,  and  during  the  first  week  once 
every  hour  and  a  half  is  none  to  often ;  while  every  two 
hours  should  be  the  rule  in  the  second  week,  and  three 
hours  in  the  third. 

All  this  time  they  must  be  kept  in  a  very  warm  place, 
and  in  a  basket  lined  with  a  piece  of  flannel  or  soft  blan- 
ket. And  during  the  first  few  days  a  fold  of  this  should 
be  laid  over  them  lest  draughts  strike  them  and  they 
become  chilled. 


270  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

As  for  the  quantity  of  food  to  be  given  at  each  feeding, 
it  should  be  sufficient  to  fill  out  their  abdomens,  but  not 
distend  them  —  merely  enough  to  overcome  that  flabbiness 
of  the  abdominal  muscles  which  is  so  apparent  when  the 
stomach  is  empty. 

Milk  is  the  food  required,  and  it  may  be  direct  from  the 
cow  or  in  condensed  form.  In  the  first  instance  it  should 
be  scalded,  allowed  to  cool  until  merely  "blood  warm,"  and 
then  to  each  feeding  should  be  added  a  "  pinch"  of  the 
saccharated  pepsin,  an  agent  which  contains  the  digestive 
principles  of  the  gastric  juice.  By  this  means  cow's  milk 
will  be  rendered  nearly,  if  not  quite,  as  easily  digestible  as 
the  canine  mother's,  and'dilution  will  not  be  necessary,  nor 
would  it  be  advisable,  for  the  former  is  not  so  rich  as  the 
latter. 

Milk  properly  condensed  has  essentially  the  same  com- 
position as  before  evaporation,  minus  the  water,  — that  is, 
unless  cane  sugar  has  been  added  or  the  heat  has  been  car- 
ried too  high, —  but  that  which  is  commonly  used  for 
domestic  purposes  is  not  above  suspicion  of  sophistication 
and  indifferent  methods  of  preservation,  therefore  only  the 
brands  intended  largely  for  infant  feeding  should  be  used. 
As  for  the  dilutions  required,  they  vary  with  the  prepara- 
tions, but  as  a  rule  half  a  teaspoonful  of  milk  to  eight  tea- 
spoonfuls  of  water  is  about  the  correct  proportion. 

While  feeding  artificially  it  is  highly  important  that  the 
apparatus  be  kept  perfectly  clean,  also  that  the  intestinal 
discharges  be  constantly  watched,  and  in  the  event  they 
become  diarrhoea-like  it  may  be  accepted  that  the  milk 
is  too  rich  and  requires  dilution,  while  if  they  have  a  sour 
odor  it  will  be  necessary  to  give  at  each  feeding  as  much 
lime-water  as  milk.  And  the  discharges  being  watery  and 
sour-smelling,  colic  either  exists  or  is  imminent,  hence  one 
drop  of  laudanum  should  be  given  between  each  feeding 
until  a  change  for  the  better  shall  have  occurred. 


SCOTCH   TERKIKIIS. 


"KILKOY. 


"  KILCKliE." 


^TfW^ 


CARE   OF   THE    NEW-BORN.  2/ 1 

If  a  puppy  takes  kindly  to  the  bottle  the  first  day  the 
chances  of  carrying  him  through  are  fairly  good.  But 
only  an  occasional  one  will  do  this,  and  even  he  is  likely  to 
fall  victim  to  diarrhoea,  colic  or  other  digestive  disturb- 
ances. However,  this  unfavorable  outlook  ought  not  to 
deter  any  one  from  endeavoring  to  save  valuable  puppies 
when  this  is  the  last  resource. 

In  some  countries  infants  deprived  of  their  mother's 
milk  are  often  nursed  by  animals,  and  most  frequently  by 
the  she-goat,  which,  besides  being  docile  and  easily  trained 
to  yield  nourishment  to  the  child,  has  teats  of  a  very  favor- 
able shape  and  size,  and  this  animal  has  proved  as  conven- 
ient a  foster  mother  for  puppies  of  large  breeds.  The 
sheep  has  also  been  pressed  into  like  service,  but  being 
generally  wild  and  intractable  she  has  rarely  proved  an 
eminent  success.  As  for  the  small  breeds,  to  secure  a 
foster  for  them  is  easier,  as  cats  can  as  a  rule  be  readily 
persuaded  to  adopt  them;  and  their  milk  seems  well  suited 
to  puppies,  for  in  many  instances  they  have  been  nourished 
by  it  from  birth  and  thrived  as  well  as  they  could  have 
done  on  the  milk  of  their  natural  mother. 

Returning  to  the  real  mother,  even  if  she  has  a  goodly 
supply  of  milk  she  can  rarely  do  justice  to  more  than  eight 
puppies,  and  were  it  the  rule  to  reduce  all  large  litters  to 
six,  breeding  would  be  far  more  profitable  than  it  is  now  ; 
moreover,  there  would  be  a  marked  improvement  in  the 
canine  race.  But  the  man  who  has  paid  a  large  price  for 
his  bitch  and  a  heavy  fee  for  "  service"  is  generally  anx- 
ious to  "  get  his  money  back"  as  soon  as  possible,  and  the 
larger  the  litter  the  greater  his  delight.  As  he  views  the 
matter,  every  puppy  has  a  fixed  value,  and  to  sacrifice  one 
is  simply  to  throw  away  so  many  hard  dollars ;  therefore, 
he  looks  to  the  mother  to  nurse  them  all,  even  if  there  are 
ten  or  more — that  is,  unless  he  has  learned  from  experi- 
ence that  he  is  expecting  altogether  too  much. 


272  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

The  infinite  majority  of  those  who  have  yielded  to  such 
irrational  promptings  have  met  with  bitter  disappointment 
and  seen  puppy  after  puppy  drop  off  with  alarming  fre- 
quency. And  oftentimes  within  such  experiences  the  few 
remaining  at  the  end  of  the  third  week  have  scarcely  been 
worth  raising ;  whereas  had  the  litters  been  properly 
reduced  in  size  at  first,  very  many  of  the  puppies  would 
doubtless  have  been  saved  and  reached  the  weaning  strong 
and  healthy. 

While  nursing  a  litter  of  good  size  a  mother  is  under  a 
strain  that  may  affect  her  vitality.  Unless  a  puppy  has 
an  abundant  supply  of  milk  to  draw  from  he  cannot  thrive 
and  develop  well  ;  and  were  one  deprived  of  it  to  live  he 
must  be  more  or  less  weakly  and  stunted.  Acting  in 
accordance  with  these  important  facts  the  intelligent 
breeder  who  has  too  large  a  litter  will  promptly  reduce  its 
size,  either  by  providing  a  foster-mother,  by  artificial  feed- 
ing or  drowning.  If  the  latter  means  must  be  resorted 
to,  as  a  rule  he  need  not  apply  it  the  first  day  unless  there 
are  several  females  in  the  litter  that  he  does  not  care  to 
raise  ;  in  which  event  the  sooner  he  disposes  of  them  the 
better. 

Other  weedings  may  be  left  to  the  second  day,  because 
it  is  rarely  possible  on  the  first  to  distinguish  between  the 
weakly  and  the  healthy  and  vigorous,  and  of  course  the 
former  are  to  go  if  a  sacrifice  is  demanded.  And  even 
with  a  litter  reduced  to  fair  size  the  chances  are  that  more 
than  one  member  of  it  will  drop  out  before  the  weaning 
period  has  been  reached. 

Bearing  strongly  upon  this  point  is  the  important  fact 
already  stated,  that  puppies  should  have  ample  nourish- 
ment in  the  first  few  hours  of  life.  Now,  if  the  milk  sup- 
ply is  scanty  during  the  first  week,  even  if  abundant 
afterward,    the    deprivation    will    very   generally    have    a 


CARE  OF   THE   NEW-BORN.  273 

permanent  effect.  In  other  words,  the  puppies  will  as  a 
rule  have  experienced  a  set-back,  from  the  ill  effects  of 
which  they  will  never  recover,  and  if  they  live  they  will 
be  but  indifferent  specimens  of  their  breeds.  The  results 
from  this  cause,  not  unnaturally,  are  the  most  pronounced 
in  the  largest  breeds,  and  are  exhibited  by  impaired  growth, 
malformations,  etc. 

Notwithstanding  every  precaution  is  taken,  mothers  will 
sometimes  be  found  with  puppies  under  them  ;  and  while 
many  01  the  little  victims  of  this  accident  are  crushed  and 
at  once  beyond  all  hope,  now  and  then  one  is  suffocated 
without  other  injury  ;  in  which  instance  recovery  is  pos- 
sible if  treatment  is  applied  promptly.  Consequently,  if  a 
puppy  that  has  been  lain  on  is  warm  when  found,  efforts 
should  always  be  made  to  restore  him,  even  if  there  are  no 
signs  of  life.  Enveloped  in  hot  flannel,  his  head  only  left 
uncovered,  one  thickness  of  clean  cloth  should  be  spread 
over  his  gaping  mouth,  and  to  the  upper  side  the  holder 
should  put  his  own  mouth  and  slowly  inflate  the  unfortu- 
nate's lungs.  That  done  he  should  remove  his  mouth  and 
gently  compress  the  chest,  so  as  to  force  out  the  air  that 
he  has  driven  in.  And  this  artificial  respiration  should  be 
persisted  in  for  at  least  ten  minutes. 

While  fortunate  results  from  this  treatment  may  be 
rare,  in  consequence  of  too  great  delay,  it  should  always 
be  tried  when  there  appears  "  a  living  chance,"  the  fact 
being  kept  in  mind  that  in  these  cases,  as  in  other  expe- 
riences, success  sometimes  attends  when  least  expected. 

Impediments  to  nursing  due  to  temporary  or  permanent 
malformations  of  the  teats  are  not  common,  still  that  they 
sometimes  occur  justifies  their  consideration  here. 

Where  the  breasts  are  very  much  distended  with  milk 
it  may  be  difficult  for  new-born  puppies  to  seize  and  hold 
the  teats,  in  which  case   it   is   merely  necessary  to  draw 


274  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

them  out  with  the  fingers  and  press  them  into  the  little 
ones'  mouths. 

In  extremely  rare  instances  a  teat  is  so  much  shorter 
than  usual  the  fingers  cannot  grasp  it,  and  the  following 
means  —  often  resorted  to  in  like  cases  in  human  mothers 
—  must  be  employed:  Take  a  beer  or  ginger  ale  bottle 
and  rinse  it  with  very  hot  water.  Dip  the  neck,  merely, 
in  cold  water  and  allow  it  to  remain  in  the  same  for  about 
ten  seconds  ;  then  surround  the  depressed  teat  with  the 
mouth  of  the  bottle  and  maintain  gentle  but  firm  pressure 
against  the  breast.  As  the  bottle  cools  the  teat  will  be 
drawn  up  into  the  neck,  and  after  being  fixed  there  for 
ten  or  fifteen  minutes  it  will  when  released  very  generally 
project  enough  to  Enable  a  puppy  to  obtain  a  firm  hold. 

Extremely  long  and  misshapen  teats  are  sometimes  en- 
countered, and  with  these  nothing  can  be  done  in  the  way 
of  treatment.  Fortunately,  however,  seldom  more  than 
two  or  three  such  are  found  on  the  same  mother ;  and 
although  the  puppies  may  refuse  them  at  first,  as  a  rule 
they  take  kindly  to  them  in  the  course  of  a  few  days  — 
that  is,  unless,  as  is  sometimes  the  case,  the  breasts  from 
which  they  project  are  incapable  of  secreting  milk. 

About  the  third  week,  in  consequence  of  being  bitten 
and  scratched  by  the  puppies,  the  teats  as  well  as  the 
breasts  often  become  quite  sore,  and  in  fact  with  some 
Varieties  the  mothers  generally  require  much  persuasion 
at  this  period  before  they  will  allow  themselves  to  be 
nursed,  so  painful  is  the  operation. 

In  such  cases  weaning  should  be  effected  as  soon  as 
possible  consistent  with  the  welfare  of  the  puppies  ;  and 
until  then  the  treatment  should  be  the  application  of  the 
so-called  apple-butter,  which  can  be  made  as  follows. 
Remove  the  skin  and  core  of  an  apple  of  medium  size. 
Slice  and  crush  in  a  mortar,  and  put   into  a  frying-pan. 


CARE   OF  THE  NEW-BORN.  275 

together  with  a  lump  of  perfectly  fresh  butter  —  but  just 
churned  and  yet  without  salt  —  about  the  size  of  a  hen's 
egg.  Stew  these  with  gentle  heat  until  the  apple  has  all 
disappeared,  and  then  pour  them  into  a  bowl  and  set  away 
to  cool. 

This  mixture,  which  cools  to  about  the  consistency  of 
vaseline,  should  be  freely  and  often  applied  to  the  sores  ; 
and  being  of  innocent  ingredients  the  puppies  cannot  be 
endangered  by  it,  as  they  would  be  by  medicinal  applica- 
tions having  any  considerable  action. 

After  the  weaning  this  remedy  can  be  persisted  in 
until  the  sores  are  healed,  or  the  ointment  of  the  oxide  of 
zinc,  which  is  generally  more  easily  obtainable,  can  be 
used,  and  it  will  speedily  effect  a  cure. 

As  for  "  drying  up  the  milk  "  after  weaning,  but  rarely 
will  it  be  necessary  to  make  any  efforts  to  this  end,  for 
mothers  very  generally  do  well  when  left  entirely  to  them- 
selves. If,  however,  it  so.  happens  that  the  breasts  are 
much  swollen  and  painful,  warm  camphorated  oil  may  be 
freely  applied ;  and  beyond  this  no  other  treatment  will 
be  required. 

Instances  are  numerous  in  which  mothers  have  had  an 
abundance  of  milk  yet  their  puppies,  apparently  healthy 
and  vigorous  at  birth,  have  all  died  in  the  course  of  three 
or  four  days,  and  the  popular  assumption  has  been  that 
the  milk  was  either  lacking  in  essential  nutritive  elements 
or  contained  noxious  properties.  The  writer  has  found 
the  former  the  rule,  yet  he  has  encountered  cases  where 
the  milk  was  up  to  the  standard  quality,  and  although  no 
poisons  could  be  detected  he  felt  convinced  that  they 
were  there,  or  had  been  there,  to  account  for  the  fatality. 
And  in  several  of  these  he  made  experiments,  the  results 
of  which  led  up  to  the  belief  that  the  harmful  proper- 
ties, if  there  were  any  in  the  milk,  were  limited  to  that 
furnished  during  the  first  day. 


276  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

In  three  cases  where  puppies  were  dropping  off  quickly 
on  the  third  day,  he  took  from  free-milking  mothers  pup- 
pies of  about  the  same  age  as  those  dying  and  put  them 
to  the  suspected  breasts,  and  kept  them  there  until  the 
weaning,  which  they  reached  in  good  condition  ;  while 
in  two  other  cases  he  was  fortunate  enough  to  be  able  to 
try  the  same  experiment  on  the  second  day  with  the  same 
good  results.  And  in  this  way  he  narrowed  the  poisons 
down  to  the  first  day. 

A  short  time  before  these  experiments  were  made  a 
well-known  and  highly  intelligent  breeder  advanced  the 
theory  that  it  was  the  very  first  milk  that  contained  the 
noxious  properties,  and  he  advised  that  the  breast-pump 
be  applied  the  day  before  whelping  and  all  the  milk  be 
drawn  out. 

In  discussing  this  treatment  shortly  afterward  the 
writer  said  in  substance  as  follows  :  Were  it  possible  to 
interpret  correctly  the  wants  of  a  bitch  in  whelp,  to  know 
just  what  forms  of  nourishment  are  essential  to  her  sup- 
port and  to  maintain  her  in  the  highest  state  of  health, 
with  all  her  functions  unimpaired,  then,  if  consonant  with 
this  knowledge  proper  care  was  administered,  it  would 
seem  like  an  unwarrantable  interference  to  attempt  to 
nurse  her  artificially  previous  to  whelping.  This  perfect 
familiarity  with  her  wants,  however,  is  denied,  and  doubt- 
less there  is  often  something  wanting  in  her  composition, 
and  its  loss  prevents  her  reaching  perfection  of  health. 
Nor  would  slight  or  even  considerable  deviation  from  the 
normal  be  inconsistent  with  the  outward  evidences  of 
health,  for  functions  might  be  disordered  to  a  consider- 
able extent  and  yet  the  fact  remain  concealed  from  even 
the  most  careful  observer.  And  did  any  weakness  or  dis- 
order of  the  system  exist  the  milk  would  likely  be  more 
or  less  vitiated.     But  it  is  not  alone  sufficient  to  consider 


CARE   OF  THE  NEW-BORN.  2^^ 

mere  abnormalities  of  this  nature,  and  one  must  go 
farther  and  include  psychical  influences  which  have  a 
most  decided  bearing.  For  instance,  in  the  human  race 
the  disturbing  passions  will  cause  certain  secretions  to 
become  corrupted  and  even  acquire  poisonous  properties. 
Beyond  doubt  the  same  causes  are  nearly  if  not  quite  as 
active  in  the  lower  orders,  for  the  bite  of  an  animal  goaded 
to  desperation  heals  less  rapidly  and  is  attended  with 
greater  inflammation  than  one  administered  when  the 
system  is  uninfluenced  by  excited  passion.  And  if  great 
mental  disturbances  in  the  human  mother  diminish  or 
vitiate  the  secretion  of  milk  and  it  becomes  hurtful  and 
even  deadly  to  the  nursing  child,  assuredly  it  is  reasonable 
to  assume  that  the  same  effects  would  follow  like  cause  in 
the  canine  mother.  Another  fact  to  be  considered  is,  that 
seldom  are  valuable  bitches  in  the  last  few  days  of  preg- 
nancy permitted  to  follow  their  own  instinctive  prompt- 
ings, but  very  generally  they  are  kept  under  rigid  re- 
straint, lest  accidents  occur ;  and  if  they  have  been 
allowed  constantly  liberty,  as  they  ought,  they  must  be 
more  or  less  nervous,  fretful,  and  discontented. 

All  of  which  goes  to  show  that  the  influences 
which  may  affect  the  milk  of  the  dam  are  many  and 
varied,  and  each  and  every  one  must  be  considered  and 
given  due  weight  in  discussing  this  important  question. 

Experience  acquired  since  giving  expression  to  the 
foregoing  has  led  the  writer  to  believe  that  where  a  large 
number  of  dogs  are  kept  together,  are  much  restrained, 
and  the  preparation  of  the  food  and  the  feeding  and 
watering  are  left  to  hired  help,  —  in  which  instance  such 
duties  are  scarcely  likely  to  be  attended  to  with  absolute 
faithfulness,  —  it  is  a  wise  procedure  to  use  the  breast- 
pump  and  draw  out  all  the  milk  on  the  day  previous  to 
whelping.     If,  on  the  other  hand,  the  expectant  mother 


2/8  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

is  alone  or  has  but  one  or  two  mates,  has  been  given 
ample  exercise,  fed  from  her  master's  table  and  otherwise 
treated  with  the  consideration  she  deserves,  to  empty  the 
breasts  as  advised  is  rarely  necessary.  Also,  that  the 
operation  can  do  no  harm  if  it  fails  to  do  good. 

An  abnormal  condition  of  the  milk  that  is  responsible 
for  not  a  few  deaths  among  puppies  is  excessive  acidity. 
Now,  the  milk  of  a  healthy  dam  is  either  slightly  alkaline 
or  else  neutral,  and  a  slight  acidity  is  not  appreciable  to 
the  eye,  but  when  this  reaction  is  a  decided  one  the  milk  is 
thicker  than  usual  or  distinctly  curdled,  and  gives  rise  to 
colic  and  diarrhoea,  which  are  speedily  fatal  unless  prompt 
relief  is  afforded. 

This  peculiar  trouble  is  often  caused  by  fermented 
foods,  as  meal  puddings  that  have  been  too  long  kept. 
There  are  some  mothers,  also,  that  exhibit  it  no  matter 
how  they  are  fed,  and  in  them  it  is  attributed  to  some 
functional  derangement,  possibly  in  the  organs  con- 
cerned in  digestion.  And  it  may  be  suspected  if  the 
puppies,  healthy  at  birth,  begin  on  the  third  or  fourth 
day  to  moan  and  cry,  grow  cold  and  clammy  to  the  touch, 
and  at  the  same  time  emit  a  sour  and  otherwise  offensive 
odor. 

As  soon  as  these  signs  are  noted  a  piece  of  blue  lit- 
mus paper  should  be  obtained  of  the  nearest  druggist 
for  the  purpose  of  testing  the  milk,  and  if  the  same  turns 
it  red  it  is  very  acid,  and  the  puppies  must  be  taken 
from  the  mother  and  vigorous  treatment  applied  to  her 
at  once. 

By  means  of  a  breast-pump  all  the  milk  must  be  drawn 
out,  and  this  operation  repeated  three  or  four  times  during 
the  next  twelve  hours.  As  soon  as  possible,  also,  the 
mother  must  be  given  an  antacid  in  the  form  of  bicar- 
bonate of  soda,  of  which  the  dose  for  other  than  toys  is 


1^ 


* 


CARE   OF  THE  NEW-BORN.  279 

one-half  a  teaspoonful,  to  be  dissolved  in  about  one-half  a 
teacupful  of  water  and  poured  down  the  patient's  throat, 
while  for  toys  it  should  be  decreased  one-half.  And  this 
medicine,  in  like  doses,  should  be  repeated  at  intervals  of 
three  hours  during  the  first  day,  once  in  six  hours  the 
next,  and  three  times  daily  throughout  the  remainder  of 
the  week. 

During  the  period  in  which  the  breast-pump  is  in  use 
the  puppies  must  not  be  allowed  to  nurse  the  mother,  but 
kept  near  a  fire,  in  a  basket  lined  with  well-warmed  flannel 
or  blanket,  and  treated  as  follows  :  — 

Put  four  tablespoonfuls  of  lime-water  into  a  cup  and  add 
to  the  same  sixteen  drops  of  laudanum.  Of  this  mixture 
give  each  puppy  one  teaspoonful.  Half  an  hour  later,  to 
every  one  that  is  still  crying  and  moaning  give  another 
teaspoonful  of  the  mixture.  After  that,  until  they  become 
quiet,  give  one  teaspoonful  every  hour  to  all  that  moan  or 
cry. 

No  effort  should  be  made  to  nourish  them  until  the 
fourth  or  fifth  hour  after  they  have  been  taken  from  their 
mother.  Then  they  should  be  given  a  mixture  of  cow's 
milk  and  lime-water  in  equal  parts,  to  which  should  be 
added  boiling  water  in  quantity  merely  sufficient  to  make 
the  whole  "blood  warm."  And  of  this  four  or  five  tea- 
spoonfuls  should  be  administered  every  two  hours,  by 
means  of  a  spoon. 

On  the  day  following  that  on  which  the  acidity  was 
detected,  the  milk  in  the  mean  time  having  all  been  drawn 
out  three  or  four  times  as  advised,  the  puppies  may  be 
returned  to  their  mother  and  permitted  to  nurse,  provided 
always  her  milk  is  no  longer  acid.  If,  however,  it  is  still 
sufficiently  so  to  turn  litmus  paper  red  the  puppies  must 
be  kept  from  her  and  nourished  artificially  until  the  soda 
has  rendered  the  milk  secretion  alkaline  or  neutral  ;    in 


28o  KENNEL  SECRETS. 

which  condition  it  will  no  longer  affect  the  color  of  this 
paper. 

If  the  bicarbonate  of  soda  is  faithfully  given  the  mother 
for  a  week  there  will  be  but  little  danger  of  her  milk  again 
becoming  excessively  acid ;  but  still  it  will  be  best  to  con- 
tinue to  use  means  of  prevention,  and  lime-water  is  the 
antacid  to  be  relied  upon  after  the  first  week.  This  should 
be  added  to  milk  in  the  proportion  of  one  teacupful  to 
every  pint ;  and  of  the  mixture  she  should  be  encouraged 
to  drink  freely  several  times  daily.  But  in  event  she 
refuses  it,  it  may  be  accepted  that  she  tastes  the  lime- 
water  and  the  proportion  of  the  same  must  be  lessened. 

The  means  of  anticipating  excessive  acidity  has  been  ad- 
vised in  chapter  "  Before  Whelping,"  and  that  —  the  pre- 
cipitated phosphate  of  lime  —  should  be  given  daily  to 
every  expectant  mother  that  has  ever  experienced  this 
accident. 


CHAPTER   VI. 

EARLIEST    PUPPYHOOD. 

The  first  six  weeks  is  practically  a  puppy's  infancy,  and 
during  this,  as  in  infancy  proper,  the  mortality  is  far 
greater  than  in  any  other  period  of  life,  for  the  reason 
that  the  resistant  powers  are  then  very  feeble  and  in 
conseqence  the  system  is  easily  deranged  and  diseased. 
Considering  which,  notwithstanding  the  general  rules  of 
management  have  been  discussed  at  length  in  the  pre- 
ceding chapters,  the  special  requirements  during  earliest 
puppyhood  will  bear  further  emphasis,  and  even  repetition 
can  properly  be  indulged  in  if  necessary  to  give  due 
prominence  to  the  important  essentials. 

The  first  fact  to  be  enlarged  upon  is,  that  except  in 
hot  weather  all  very  young  puppies  must  have  artificial 
warmth,  not  alone  because  they  are  poorly  able  to  resist 
the  depressing  and  destructive  influences  of  cold,  but 
because  they  are  in  imperative  need  of  that  extraordinary 
vivifying  effect  of  warmth  which  reaches  to  all  parts  of 
the  body  and  excites  stronger  and  healthier  action  in 
every  important  organ.  Indeed,  so  great  is  the  suscepti- 
bility of  the  new-born  to  cold  it  can  properly  be  said  that 

281 


282  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

it  is  hardly  possible  to  keep  them  too  warm,  and  certainly 
the  degree  of  heat  already  advised  for  the  whelping  room 
—  80°  Fahr.  —  cannot  be  any  too  great. 

Obviously  the  period  of  greatest  danger  from  cold  exists 
in  the  first  few  hours  after  birth,  while  the  little  ones  are 
wet  with  the  amniotic  fluid,  yet  even  when  they  have  dried 
and  their  own  natural  bodily  heat  has  developed  they  are 
very  easily  chilled.  Nor  do  they  gain  resistance  rapidly, 
but  continue  in  danger  of  this  accident  for  at  least  three 
weeks  —  the  degree,  of  course,  gradually  subsiding. 

It  will  doubtless  seem  to  some  that  the  period  of  special 
liability  to  chilling  having  passed,  puppies  might  with 
safety,  even  in  cold  weather,  be  put  into  stables,  kennels 
or  other  buildings  unfurnished  with  heating  arrangements  ; 
and  to  believe  this  is  made  easier  by  the  mistaken  impres- 
sions which  are  so  prevalent  about  the  invigorating  effects 
of  cold.  Without  attempting  to  discuss  these  notions  it 
is  merely  necessary  to  say  that  cold  is  to  some  degree 
invigorating  to  men  and  superior  animals,  provided  their 
bodies  have  sufficient  covering  to  retain  the  internal 
warmth  and  they  are  well  developed,  abundantly  nourished, 
healthy  and  robust. 

In  all  presenting  these  conditions  cold  will  ordinarily 
tend  to  promote  vigor  and  energy,  but  it  can  never  do  so 
when  any  of  them  are  in  considerable  degree  wanting  ; 
and  certainly  it  cannot  properly  be  considered  other  than 
inimical  to  the  very  young  and  very  old,  in  whom  the 
powers  of  resistance  are  invariably  low. 

Clearly,  therefore,  young  puppies  should  not  be  exposed 
to  cold  excepting  when  they  are  sure  to  resist  its  depress- 
ing effects  by  free  exercise.  It  is  evident,  moreover,  that 
such  exposures  should  not  be  of  longer  duration  than  the 
requisite  exercise.  And  accepting  this  as  essential  to  the 
preservation   of  the  health  of  puppies,  also  the  fact,  too 


EARLIEST  PUPPYHOOD.  283 

plain  to  be  mistaken,  that  they  cannot  possibly  thrive  if 
they  are  denied  the  force-producing  and  vitalizing  influ- 
ence of  heat,  the  conclusion  is  inevitable  that  they  must 
have  comfortably  warm  quarters  throughout  the  grow^ing 
stage. 

Breeders  are  singularly  reluctant  to  go  thus  far  or 
acknowledge  the  entire  truth  of  this  ;  and  while  they  may 
appreciate  the  importance  of  artificial  heat  in  the  first 
month  of  life,  no  small  proportion  of  them,  even  during 
severe  weather,  put  their  puppies  into  unheated  quarters 
as  soon  as  they  have  been  weaned,  under  the  impression 
that  they  will  be  healthier  and  develop  more  rapidly  there 
than  they  would  were  they  kept  warm.  And,  as  might  be 
expected,  such  breeders  are  never  eminent  successes,  for 
these  practices  invariably  tell  sorely  and  result  in  impair- 
ment of  the  general  health,  constitution  and  growth,  and 
in  very  many  instances  in  deformities. 

The  writer  is  convinced  that  no  more  dangerous  rock 
lies  in  the  way  of  breeders,  hence  his  efforts  to  give  it 
every  possible  prominence.  And  to  this  end  he  draws 
from  his  experience  in  raising  pugs. 

Some  ten  years  ago  he  bought  a  small  kennel  of  this 
breed  for  the  young  members  of  his  family,  who  at  once 
gave  the  little  ones  the  freedom  of  the  house.  Not  long 
afterwards  he  learned  from  various  sources  that  pugs  were 
very  hard  to  raise  and  losses  from  almost  every  litter 
might  be  confidently  expected.  Yet  notwithstanding  the 
reputed  high  rate  of  mortality  there  have  been  whelped  at 
his  home  over  one  hundred  and  fifty  of  these  toys,  and  not 
a  single  one  among  them  all  has  died.  Of  course  there 
has  been  now  and  then  a  weakling,  but  such  were  all 
promptly  disposed  of,  and,  as  stated,  not  a  natural  death 
has  occurred  in  this  wide  experience. 

The  reason  for  this  phenomenally  good  fortune  appears 


284  KENNEL  SECRETS. 

in  the  fact  that  all  whelpings  occurred  in  the  kitchen 
excepting  when  the  weather  was  intensely  hot ;  and  until 
long  after  the  weaning  the  youngsters  rarely  encountered 
a  temperature  lower  than  80°,  while  oftentimes  during 
days  it  ran  much  higher  than  this  in  their  corner,  which 
was  within  two  feet  of  the  cooking  range,  and  on  several 
occasions,  for  the  purpose  of  experiment,  quite  intense 
heat  was  kept  up  day  and  night  for  a  week  or  more, 
during  which  times  the  little  ones  actually  grew  faster 
and  became  plumper,  stronger  and  hardier  than  while  the 
temperature  was  at  the  usual  degree. 

It  is,  of  course,  impossible  to  fix  the  temperatures 
which  puppies  require  in  their  various  stages  of  growth, 
for  obviously  the  toys  require  a  higher  degree  of  heat 
than  the  big  ones,  and  as  a  rule  the  short-haired  a  higher 
than  the  long-haired.  But  niceties  of  adjustment  are  not 
necessary,  provided  the  degree  is  high  enough,  for  it  is 
scarcely  possible  to  keep  any  puppy  too  warm  during  his 
first  month. 

As  previously  stated,  after  the  weaning,  and  when  some 
decided  resistance  to  cold  has  been  acquired,  a  lower 
temperature  than  75°  will  in  many  instances  be  allow- 
able, but  in  none  ought  it  to  fall  more  than  five,  or  at  the 
most  ten,  degrees  before  the  puppies  are  five  or  six 
months  old. 

A  nearer  adjustment  than  this  would  scarcely  be  pos- 
sible without  duly  considering  the  influence  of  existing 
conditions.  For  instance,  if  five  or  six  puppies  were 
together  it  would  not  be  necessary  to  keep  the  quarters 
quite  as  warm  as  it  would  be  were  they  occupied  by  only 
one  or  two.  Some  puppies  are  more  playful  than  others, 
and  the  active  require  less  artificial  heat  than  the  sluggish. 
The  coat  makes  a  very  great  difference  also,  and  mani 
festly  a  short-haired  puppy  cannot  bear  a  low  tempera- 


EARLIEST  PUPPYHOOD.  285 

ture  as  well  as  one  which  has  long  and  thick  hair. 
Quarters  accessible  to  the  sun's  rays  for  several  hours 
daily  are  comfortable  with  less  heat  than  those  to  which 
they  are  denied  or  only  admitted  for  a  short  time. 
Finally,  there  is  a  decided  difference  in  sleeping  quar- 
ters and  bedding  materials. 

Weighing  the  matter  carefully,  one  ought  not  to  be  in 
doubt  as  to  the  degree  of  warmth  required  by  his  puppies, 
but  if  so,  let  him  give  the  little  ones  the  benefit  of  it  and 
add  five  or  ten  degrees  to  his  estimate,  remembering 
always  that  they  can  bear  quite  a  high  degree  with  benefit, 
whereas  a  low  degree  will  positively  ruin  them.  Let  him 
accept,  also,  that  if  puppies  are  put  into  too  cold  a  place 
their  lives  will  be  spent  in  sleeping,  huddled  up  to  each 
other  trying  to  keep  warm,  whereas  if  they  are  in  a  warm 
place  they  are  far  more  likely  to  be  up  and  on  the  move 
—  the  importance  of  which  condition  has  been  duly 
emphasized  in  the  discussions  on  feeding. 

But  the  responsibility  bearing  in  this  direction  does  not, 
by  any  means,  cease  with  the  fifth  or  sixth  month,  for 
even  although  puppies  are  then  fairly  well  able  to  resist 
cold  when  applied  for  short  intervals,  they  must  inevi- 
tably suffer  from  prolonged  exposures  ;  and,  besides,  they 
still  imperatively  need  the  vitality-giving  influence  of 
heat.  Hence  the  conclusion  that  their  quarters  should 
be  kept  comfortably  warm  even  up  to  the  age  of  maturity. 

There  are  doubtless  some  breeding  only  in  a  small  way 
who  are  so  situated  that  it  would  be  simply  impossible  for 
them  to  provide  heated  quarters  for  their  puppies  after 
they  have  been  weaned,  although  previous  to  that  time 
they  might  give  them  a  place  by  the  kitchen  fire.  Such 
being  the  case  they  should  obtain  a  packing  case  made  of 
matched  boards,  cut  a  hole  in  it  large  enough  merely 
for  the  puppies,  and  curtain  the  same  with  a  piece  of 
carpeting. 


286  KENNEL  SECRETS. 

But  this  packing  case  must  be  a  very  large  one  even  if 
the  puppies  are  of  small  size.  For  instance,  were  they 
cockers  and  two  or  three  in  number,  its  dimensions  should 
not  be  less  than  three  feet  each  way ;  and  on  every  side, 
at  the  uppermost  parts,  there  should  be  at  least  two  holes, 
an  inch  in  diameter,  for  the  purpose  of  ventilation  ;  while 
for  larger  breeds  a  corresponding  increase  in  the  size 
of  the  box  and  openings  for  ventilation  is,  of  course, 
demanded. 

Properly  there  should  be  nothing  over  a  puppy's  head 
except  the  roof  of  his  kennel ;  and  especially  ruinous  are 
the  low  boxes  which  some  breeders  resort  to,  for  the  air 
in  them  must  be  always  bad  ;  and  besides  his  health  being 
impoverished  in  one  of  these,  the  puppy,  feeling  there  is 
something  over  his  head  and  rubbing  or  bumping  against 
it  a  few  times,  gets  into  the  habit  of  crouching,  and 
instead  of  standing  straight  he  goes  wrong  in  front  with 
a  rapidity  that  the  novice  could  scarcely  credit.  Again, 
if  the  puppies  are  long-coated,  there  are  many  of  them, 
and  their  box  is  small  it  will  likely  prove  much  too  warm 
for  some  of  them,  especially  the  strongest,  which  are  sure 
to  be  at  the  bottom  of  the  nest,  and  covered  by  the  others 
—  all  huddling  for  warmth  —  they  often  sweat  freely,  and 
in  consequence  sometimes  lose  much  of  their  hair.  Such 
loss  from  this  cause  is  not  a  common  one,  of  course, 
but  it  has  been  noted,  and  suggests  the  advisability  of 
dividing  up  all  large  litters. 

In  a  word,  never  use  sleeping-boxes  excepting  when 
puppies  can  in  no  other  way  be  kept  warm,  for,  as  stated, 
at  best  they  are  ruinous.  And  really  he  who  cannot  keep 
his  puppies  comfortably  warm  without  boxing  ought  not 
to  attempt  to  breed  them. 

Beyond  keeping  them  warm  and  as  free  as  possible 
from  vermin,  and  their  quarters  clean,  well   lighted  and 


EARLIEST  PUPPYHOOD.  287 

ventilated,  healthy  puppies  require  but  little  of  the  care- 
takers up  to  time  of  weaning.  These  duties,  however, 
must  be  faithfully  met  ;  and  not  the  least  important  is 
that  of  lighting.  Although  puppies  are  not,  like  plants, 
absolutely  dependent  for  their  growth  upon  the  rays  of 
the  sun,  they  share  with  all  nature  its  benign  influence, 
and  when  kept  constantly  in  places  from  which  it  is  shut 
out  they  never  thrive  as  they  ought,  and  are  prone  to 
diseases  that  go  hand  in  hand  with  debility.  Therefore, 
by  all  means  let  the  little  ones  have  their  daily  "sun- 
bath  ; "  and  the  longer  it  lasts  the  better. 

In  the  way  of  vermin,  fleas  and  lice  are  the  most  con- 
stant intruders  during  earliest  puppyhood,  and  while  the 
latter  are  at  all  times  easily  disposed  of,  in  warm  weather, 
certainly,  perfect  immunity  from  the  former,  no  matter  the 
protective  means  applied,  must  often  be  impossible.  How- 
ever, temporary  relief  at  least  from  these  most  resistant 
of  nuisances  can  be  obtained  by  energetic  treatment, 
which  should  be  administered  as  follows  :  — 

As  soon  as  the  mother  and  puppies  are  found  to  be  in- 
fested with  fleas  they  should  be  removed  from  their 
quarters,  which,  after  the  bedding  has  been  taken  out  and 
burned,  should  be  thoroughly  cleaned.  The  weather  being 
very  warm  or  the  heating  arrangements  such  as  will  in- 
sure their  drying  quickly,  the  floors  and  walls  should  be 
liberally  sprinkled  or  sponged  with  the  tincture  of  flea 
powder  or  the  crude  carbolic  acid  solution  prepared  as  ad- 
vised in  the  chapter  devoted  to  "Troublesome  Insects." 
If,  however,  speedy  drying  is  for  any  reason  out  of  the 
question  a  faithful  sweeping  must  suffice  in  the  way  of 
cleaning;  after  which  Persian  insect  powder  —  in  the  dry 
form  —  should  be  freely  applied  to  the  ceiling,  walls  and 
floors,  and  thrown  into  every  crack  and  cranny. 

The  mother  and  her  puppies  should  then  be  taken  to  a 


288  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

convenient  out-building  and  treated  with  the  same  powder, 
which  should  be  used  generously  and  well  worked  into 
their  coats. 

This  powder,  by  the  way,  is  not  at  all  likely  to  do  mature 
dogs  harm,  but  in  very  young  puppies  it  may  produce 
symptoms  of  poisoning,  the  most  pronounced  of  which  are 
extreme  prostration  and  paralysis  of  the  hind  legs.  Conse- 
quently, after  it  has  been  used  and  allowed  to  remain  in  the 
hair  for  about  five  minutes  the  most  of  it  should  be  brushed 
or  combed  out.  And  he  who  need  not  be  sparing  of  time 
should  use  the  comb,  —  a  fine  one,  —  by  which  means  he 
will  remove  many  fleas  that  are  apparently  dead  yet 
merely  narcotized  and  promise  to  be  as  lively  as  ever  in 
the  course  of  an  hour. 

The  mother,  when  released,  will  shake  herself  and  throw 
off  most  of  the  powder  from  her  coat,  therefore  she  should 
be  kept  lying  down  and  prevented  from  doing  this  for  ten 
or  fifteen  minutes.  Her  breasts  wiped  with  a  cloth,  and 
the  floor  swept  —  precautions  necessary  lest  the  powder 
get  into  the  puppies'  mouths  —  and  new  bedding,  that 
has  been  lightly  sprinkled  with  kerosene  oil,  put  in,  she  and 
her  little  ones  can  be  returned  to  their  old  quarters.  And 
as  a  rule  they  will  be  comparatively  free  from  the  pests 
for  two  or  three  days,  when  the  same  procedures  will 
again  be  demanded. 

The  treatment  required  by  puppies  infested  by  lice  has 
been  fully  described  under  "  Troublesome  Insects,"  there- 
fore it  need  not  be  gone  into. 

Those  who  breed  should  be  fully  alive  to  the  fact  that 
the  milk  secretion  is  susceptible  to  no  small  number  of 
influences  which  may  arrest  it,  deteriorate  it,  or  even 
render  it  highly  poisonous.  And  among  them  the  pain- 
ful emotions,  as  fear,  grief  and  anger,  are  some  of  the 
most  potent.     Let  a  mother  be  the  victim  of  either  of 


EARLIEST  PUPPYHOOD.  289 

these,  the  disquietude  being  intense  or  prolonged,  and  the 
chances  are  that  for  a  time  she  will  have  much  less  milk  ; 
also  that  what  she  furnishes  will  cause  colic,  diarrhoea  and 
perhaps  much  graver  symptoms  in  her  puppies.  Conse- 
quently, to  treat  the  nursing  mother  kindly,  make  her 
perfectly  contented,  and  above  all  to  prevent  her  from 
fighting,  are  essentials  of  the  very  greatest  importance. 
And  were  either  to  be  further  emphasized  it  must  be  the 
last,  for  a  hard  fight,  even  if  the  wounds  received  are 
trifling,  will  sometimes  so  poison  the  milk  it  will  actually 
kill  puppies  that  are  less  than  ten  days  old. 

It  should  also  be  borne  in  mind  that  there  are  a  num- 
ber of  drugs  which  when  given  the  mother  to  some  extent 
pass  out  in  her  milk  and  have  their  characteristic  action 
upon  her  young.  It  follows,  therefore,  that  to  dose  a 
nursing  mother  must  be  somewhat  hazardous,  and  the 
safe  rule  is  to  give  medicine  to  such  only  when  its  use  is 
sanctioned  by  a  physician  or  thoroughly  educated  veteri- 
nary skilled  in  canine  diseases. 

The  same  can  be  said  of  dosing  puppies,  excepting  in 
colic  and  the  presence  of  worms,  in  which  affections  per- 
sons of  intelligence  can  be  trusted  to  apply  the  simple 
measures  of  treatment  that  promise  relief.  And  as  no 
more  favorable  opportunity  is  likely  to  present,  the  meas- 
ures essential  in  the  former  can  be  properly  discussed 
here. 

In  colic  keep  the  little  patient  very  warm  and  give  of  the 
tincture  of  opium — laudanum — one  drop  for  each  week  of 
life,  every  second  hour  until  the  moaning  has  ceased. 
That  is,  the  dose  in  the  first  week  of  life  should  be  one 
drop,  in  the  second  week  two  drops,  and  in  the  tenth,  ten 
drops. 

This  dose  and  method  of  increase  are  proper  and  safe  in 
early    life,    for    all  breeds  excepting  toys,  for  the  largest 


290  KENNEL   SECRETS, 

of  which  the  dose  should  be  one-half  a  drop  for  every 
week,  while  from  one-fourth  to  one-third  of  a  drop  will  be 
sufficient  for  the  smallest. 

Doses  adjusted  by  this  rule  may  seem  to  the  reader  to  be 
very  large,  yet  they  are  simply  moderate  or  medium,  for 
laudanum  and  other  preparations  of  opium  have  much  less 
effect  upon  the  canine  than  upon  the  human  race  ;  and  in 
fact  a  dose  that  would  deeply  narcotize  a  man  would 
scarcely  have  any  appreciable  effect  upon  a  dog,  especially 
if  suffering  from  colic. 

As  for  treatment  of  worms,  the  subject  is  so  important 
and  there  is  so  much  to  be  said  upon  it,  an  entire  chapter, 
or  more,  can  properly  be  devoted  to  it. 

Considering  that  all  men  do  not  appreciate  how  essen- 
tial fresh  air  is  to  their  own  health,  and  that  there  is  a 
popular  prejudice,  not  altogether  confined  to  the  unedu- 
cated, against  it  under  certain  conditions,  its  importance 
to  canine  mothers  and  their  young  is  not  likely  to  be  felt 
in  all  instances,  consequently  there  is  necessity  for 
emphasizing  it  here  among  the  special  requirements  of 
early  puppyhood. 

It  is  simply  impossible  for  a  mother  to  retain  her 
health  and  the  integrity  of  milk  secretion,  or  for  her  little 
ones  to  thrive,  in  a  stagnant  and  vitiated  atmosphere. 
And  while  all  must  invariably  suffer  greatly  when  fresh 
air  in  abundance  is  denied,  the  young  suffer  the  most 
intensely  from  this  cause,  and  under  its  influence  their 
blood  becomes  poor  and  scanty,  nutrition  is  greatly 
impaired  and  growth  obstructed;  and  their  vitality  con- 
stantly lowering,  they  are  easy  victims  to  derangements, 
which  are  now  singularly  liable  to  end  fatally,  whereas  in 
the  presence  of  fairly  good  health  they  might  have  been 
resisted,  or  the  resistant  powers  failing,  more  than  likely 
they  would  soon  have  been  recovered  from. 


EARLIEST  PUPPYHOOD.  29 1 

None  who  have  kept  dogs  need  be  told  that  the  atmos- 
phere of  a  room  holding  one  of  them  soon  becomes 
loaded  with  offensive  emanations  from  the  tenant's  body. 
Now  add  to  these  impurities  others,  even  in  greater 
abundance,  such  as  arise  continually  and  from  numberless 
sources  wherever  there  is  a  litter  of  puppies,  and  contami- 
nation is  so  rapid  that  efficient  and  safe  renewal  is  well- 
nigh  impossible  excepting  in  the  mildest  weather. 

In  considering  the  question  of  ventilation  the  quarters 
of  nursing  puppies  may  be  likened  to  sick-rooms,  for  the 
tenants  of  the  latter  require  much  more  fresh  air  than 
they  would  were  they  in  good  health,  and  yet  the  renewal 
of  the  contaminated  air  must  be  less  rapid  owing  to  the 
increased  susceptibility  to  draughts.  Puppies  in  propor- 
tion to  their  size  need  more  pure  air  and  suffer  greater 
harm  from  bad  air  than  mature  dogs,  and  they,  also,  are 
feeble  and  highly  susceptible  to  draughts.  Consequently 
in  both  instances  where  artificial  warmth  is  required,  to 
secure  good  ventilation  will  never  be  easy,  and  always 
impossible  without  care  and  watchfulness. 

In  warm  weather,  when  open  windows  and  doors  are 
matters  of  course,  there  is  but  little  difihculty  in  obtaining 
an  abundant  supply  of  fresh  air,  but  the  necessity  is  none 
the  less  in  cold  weather,  —  a  fact  much  too  little  appre- 
ciated, —  and  to  meet  it  in  the  case  of  puppies,  as  with 
the  sick,  one  of  the  most  important  essentials  in  a  gener- 
ous use  of  fuel. 

Duly  mindful  that  draughts  are  a  deadly  menace  to 
puppies,  the  careful  breeder  will  resort  to  some  of  the 
numerous  devices  for  opening  the  windows  and  at  the 
same  time  protecting  the  inmates.  The  simplest  of  these 
devices  is  a  board,  about  one  foot  in  width,  on  the  win- 
dow-sill, and  nailed  or  otherwise  fastened  to  the  inner 
casing,  about  an  inch  from  the  sash.     With  this  in  place 


292  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

the  window  can  be  raised  six  or  eight  inches  if  necessary, 
and  the  air  admitted  at  the  lower  aperture  and  between 
the  two  sashes  will  be  directed  upward.  Or  if  the  win- 
dows are  small  and  intended  especially  for  ventilation, 
such  owner  will  see  to  it  that  they  are  hinged  at  the 
lower  edge  on  the  inside  and  provided  with  a  deep  frame, 
to  prevent  side  draughts,  and  adjustable  chains,  that  they 
may  be  opened  and  fixed  at  any  desired  angle. 

The  importance  of  cleanliness  deserves  as  strong 
emphasis,  and  in  fact  no  amount  of  ventilation  will  keep 
the  air  good  in  quarters  that  are  not  clean. 

Where  a  mother  is  correct  in  her  habits  and  allowed  to 
go  in  and  out  at  will,  cleanliness  is  easily  maintained 
during  the  first  three  weeks,  and  there  is  but  little  to  do 
aside  from  renewing  the  bedding  daily  and  changing  the 
platforms  every  two  or  three  days.  But  when  she  no 
longer  cleans  up  after  her  little  ones  it  will  be  necessary 
to  look  to  the  floors  every  day. 

He  who  has  two  rooms  or  pens,  to  be  occupied  by  the 
mother  and  puppies  on  alternate  days  after  the  first  week, 
is  especially  fortunate,  for  one  can  be  used  while  the  floor 
of  the  other  is  being  disinfected  and  well  dried.  In  the 
absence  of  such  favorable  conditions  all  filth  should  be 
removed  daily  and  the  floor  beneath  mopped  with  a  cloth 
wet  with  the  permanganate  of  potassium  solution,  the  for- 
mula of  which  is  given  in  chapter  on  "  Kennelling." 
Disinfectants  in  powdered  form  would  greatly  favor  con- 
venience, but  obviously  it  would  be  inexpedient  to  use 
them  where  the  puppies  were  very  young ;  nor  is  it 
expedient  to  use  sawdust,  dry  sand  or  the  like  on  the 
floors  before  the  fifth  or  sixth  week,  for  the  reason  that 
many  of  the  particles  would  get  into  the  little  ones' 
mouths,  and,  swallowed,  cause  indigestion. 

While  on  the  subject  of  cleanliness  it  will  be  as  well  to 


Tlie  Cliow-tliow.  ••  .>lai»tlaii«»"»  lillt."    Tlie  Schippeike,  "  Cople  Sopliia. 


The  Iteilliiigton  Terrier,  "Jack  Warkwortli." 


SKYE   TERHIERS. 


SILVEH   urEEIV." 


'CAIILO   111. 


^mm^^ 


•OIA*    KIIB«UA1»Y. 


EARLIEST  PUPPYHOOD.  293 

go  further  and  consider  the  importance  of  practising  this 
virtue  when  caring  for  the  feeding-vessels  which  are  used 
with  puppies  at  the  time  of  weaning  and  while  cow's  milk 
is  being  given. 

All  may  not  know  that  under  certain  conditions  there 
is  generated  in  milk  a  virulent  poison,  bearing  the  name 
tyrotoxicon,  which  was  first  discovered  in  cheese,  and 
eventually  proved  to  be  the  active  agent  in  ice-cream 
poisoning,  epidemics  of  which  have  been  frequent  in  this 
country. 

The  special  influences  which  develop  this  poison  are 
heat,  foul  air  and  moisture.  The  first  alone  is  scarcely 
sufficient,  for  it  does  but  little  more  than  cause  the  acid 
changes  or  souring, — and,  as  all  know,  sour  milk  is  inno- 
cent of  harm,  —  but  when  combined  with  emanations  from 
filth  its  evil  effects  are  greatly  intensified,  and  these  are 
still  further  favored  by  moisture. 

The  symptoms  of  milk  poisoning  in  adults  are  essentially 
the  same  as  appear  in  severe  cholera  morbus,  while  in 
children  they  are  identical  with  those  of  cholera  infantum  ; 
in  fact  there  is  ample  reason  for  the  belief  that  these  so- 
called  summer  complaints  in  most  instances  are,  pure  and 
simple,  attacks  of  milk  poisoning.  Now,  while  dogs,  old 
and  young,  are  far  better  able  to  resist  food  poisons  than 
members  of  the  human  race,  such  is  the  nature  of  tyro- 
toxicon it  is  scarcely  possible  for  them  to  be  wholly  insen- 
sible to  it.  And  since  diarrhoea  of  a  rapidly  depressing 
and  fatal  character  is  by  no  means  infrequent  among 
young  puppies  in  hot  weather,  it  is  not  at  all  unreasonable 
to  suppose  that  they,  also,  suffer  from  this  poison. 

Assuredly  if  they  are  susceptible  to  milk  poisoning  the 
loose  methods  of  many  caretakers  must  do  much  to  make 
puppies  frequent  victims  of  it ;  and  more  than  likely  the 
poison  is  usually  generated  in  the  feeding-vessels,  which 


294  KENNEL  SECRETS. 

are  often  filled  and  left  in  the  pens  between  feedings,  and 
before  fresh  milk  is  put  into  them  what  remains  of  the 
previous  meal  is  simply  poured  out,  or  at  best  they  are 
but  indifferently  rinsed  in  cold  water  from  the  drinking- 
pail. 

Until  it  has  been  proved  that  dogs  are,  by  some  pecu- 
liarity of  constitution,  protected  from  the  danger  of  milk 
poisoning,  clearly  it  is  the  duty  of  breeders  to  close  every 
door  through  which  this  accident  might  possibly  enter. 
Nor  will  prevention  be  difficult  provided  the  milk  is  prop- 
erly kept  before  it  is  served  out,  for  all  that  is  then  re- 
quired is  to  maintain  cleanliness  of  the  feeding-vessels. 
And  to  this  end,  after  they  have  been  used  they  should  be 
well  rinsed  with  cold  soda-  or  lye-water,  then  filled  with 
boiling  water  and  allowed  to  stand  upon  the  top,  or  in  the 
oven,  of  a  hot  stove  for  ten  minutes ;  by  which  means, 
and  by  none  other,  can  they  be  made  perfectly  clean  and 
sweet,  notwithstanding  the  notion  that  the  scalding  pro- 
cess—  merely  pouring  boiling  water  into  them  and  at  once 
out  again  —  is  quite  sufficient. 

While  this  method  should  be  invariably  applied  in  hot 
weather,  breeders  will  do  well  to  persist  in  it  during  other 
seasons,  for  one  can  never  be  too  careful  in  his  manage- 
ment of  young  puppies,  especially  in  the  matter  of  foods 
and  all  pertaining  thereto,  for  even  slight  defects  in  them 
are  likely  to  be  felt,  and  oftentimes  with  fatal  conse- 
quences. 

Attention  to  the  skin  and  jacket  is  another  matter  for 
consideration  while  on  the  subject  of  cleanliness,  but  it 
need  not  long  engage  attention,  for  aside  from  keeping 
them  free  from  fleas  and  lice,  and  grooming  them  with  a 
brush  every  day  after  they  are  old  enough  to  play  about, 
puppies  demand  but  little  in  this  direction.  Grooming, 
by  the  way,  is  advisable  not   alone  because  it  stimulates 


EARLIEST  PUPPYHOOD.  295 

them,  favors  cleanliness  and  nutrition  of  the  skin  and 
health  of  the  hair,  but  because  it  leads  to  the  early  detec- 
tion of  eczema,  mange,  or  other  troubles  of  this  sort  if  any 
present  themselves.  As  for  washing,  it  is  scarcely  safe 
before  the  fourth  month  has  been  passed,  because  of  the 
inevitable  fright,  more  or  less  severe  shock  to  the  system, 
and  danger  of  cold.  Nor  is  it  likely  to  be  necessary 
earlier  than  this  if  the  general  management  has  been 
good  and  cleanliness  maintained  in  the  quarters.  A  safe 
rule  to  cover  this  point  is  to  delay  washing  puppies  until 
it  is  absolutely  necessary,  and  then  to  resort  to  it  no 
matter  what  the  period  of  life,  using  always  every  precau- 
tion against  chilling. 

As  no  better  opportunity  is  likely  to  be  afforded  it  is 
well  now  to  call  attention  to  the  fact  that  large  breeds  at 
a  very  early  age  —  even  in  the  fifth  or  sixth  week  —  some- 
times begin  to  be  deformed  in  their  legs  or  feet  owing  not 
only  to  the  comparatively  great  weight  of  their  bodies, 
but  to  a  deficiency,  in  their  composition,  of  bone-making 
materials.  And  this  is  especially  liable  to  be  the  case  if 
proper  precautions  are  not  taken  with  the  mother  before 
whelping  and  while  nursing,  which  consist  mainly  of  high- 
ly nutritious  foods  and  the  use  of  the  precipitated  phos- 
phate of  lime,  as  advised  in  chapter  "Before  Whelping." 

There  may  be  actual  rickets  to  account  for  the  defor- 
mity, yet  without  this  constitutional  trouble  the  forelegs 
may  bend  inward  or  outward  at  the  knees,  —  generally  the 
latter,  —  the  feet  turn  out,  the  hind  legs  become  what  is 
called  cowhocked,  or  the  pasterns  give  way,  making  the 
puppies  walk  on  their  ankles. 

If  a  puppy  is  healthy  at  birth,  properly  nourished  by  his 
mother  and  afterward  wisely  fed,  and  meanwhile  given 
plenty  of  exercise  and  provided  with  good  wholesome 
quarters,  —  dry,  clean,  well  ventilated,  etc., — there  willbe^ 


296  KENNEL  SECRETS. 

but  little,  if  any,  danger  of  such  deformities.  But  all 
these  essential  conditions  are  rarely  present ;  moreover, 
no  small  proportion  of  puppies  have  some  inherent  defect 
at  birth,  consequently  to  all  of  large  breeds  it  is  a  wise 
plan  to  give  the  precipitated  phosphate  of  lime  for  two  or 
three  months  at  least.  And  the  use  of  this  should  be 
commenced  about  the  seventh  week  provided  no  signs  of 
deformity  have  been  noted ;  or  if  they  appear  earlier,  it 
should  be  given  as  soon  as  it  is  indicated.  A  moderate 
dose  of  the  drug  is  one-fourth  of  a  teaspoonful,  and  one  dose 
each  day  —  with  the  last  meal  —  will  generally  be  sufficient, 
yet  if  deformity  is  threatened  it  should  be  given  in  the 
food  twice  daily,  and  the  dose  be  increased  to  one-half 
a  teaspoonful. 

It  being  a  common  custom  in  America  to  deliver  at 
about  the  eighth  week  the  puppies  that  have  been  pre- 
engaged,  the  subject  of  selection  can  properly  be  con- 
sidered in  this  chapter. 

Beginners,  and  some  old  fanciers  perhaps,  should  be 
impressed  with  the  fact  that  in  breeding,  as  in  all  lines  of 
business,  to  be  financially  successful  they  must  establish 
reputations  for  fair  dealing.  And  the  first  rule  which 
they  should  fix  is  :  Never  sell  a  badly  developed  or  badly 
formed  puppy,  or  one  that  is  really  ailing,  at  any  price. 

The  importance  of  this  it  is  scarcely  necessary  to  em- 
phasize, for  every  puppy  sold  is  a  living  advertisement, 
and  even  principle  aside,  no  breeder  can  afford  to  have 
out  against  him  bad  ones  in  the  form  of  unsound  or  crip- 
pled specimens. 

In  some  instances  when  puppies  must  inevitably  turn 
out  poorly  they  present  evidences  of  the  fact  before  they 
are  eight  weeks  old,  but  except  they  are  weaklings,  have 
pronounced  congenital  deformities  or  are  bad  in  markings, 
fatal  defects,  as  acquired  deformities,  a  snipy  face,  prick 


EARLIEST  PUPPYHOOD.  297 

ear  or  the  like,  can  seldom  if  ever  be  detected  until  a 
later  age.  But  when  any  such  defects  are  clearly  evident, 
as  a  rule  he  is  wisest  in  the  end  who  destroys  the  victims, 
for  although  he  might  dispose  of  some  of  them  for  a  few 
dollars,  the  sums  received  could  scarcely  compensate  him 
for  the  risks  he  takes  of  endangering  the  reputation  of 
his  kennel. 

It  is  well  to  add  here  that  if  the  unfortunates  are  more 
than  two  or  three  weeks  old  they  should  not  be  destroyed  by 
drowning,  but  the  dilute  prussic  acid  should  be  given  them, 
and  not  less  than  half  a  teaspoonful  to  the  youngest  and 
smallest  victims,  while  to  the  others,  four  or  five  months 
of  age,  or  older,  the  dose  should  be  one  teaspoonful. 

Although  these  doses  are  large  they  are  none  too  large, 
for  there  must  not  be  any  failure  in  the  attempt  to 
destroy. 

It  is  the  custom  of  not  a  few  breeders,  when  they  have 
very  large  litters  that  must  be  weeded  out,  to  sacrifice  the 
bitches  whether  or  not  they  are  superior  to  the  dogs  in 
size,  form,  markings,  etc.  There  is,  of  course,  a  better 
market  for  their  choice,  but  still  such  a  hard-and-fast  rule 
must  be  deplored,  for  far  better  a  good  bitch  than  an  in- 
different dog  even  if  the  latter  will  sell  for  a  trifle  more. 
And  when  there  are  two  doubtful  specimens  in  a 
litter,  a  bitch  and  a  dog,  and  one  of  them  must  go,  the 
owner  will  do  wisely  to  keep  the  former,  for  should  she 
turn  out  but  moderate  she  might  still  be  of  value  for 
breeding  purposes  ;  whereas  the  dog,  if  an  indifferent 
specimen  of  his  breed,  would  generally  be  hard  to  dispose 
of,  would  be  practically  shut  out  from  bench  shows,  and 
seldom  profitable  as  a  stud. 

In  fact  it  is  a  good  plan  always  to  keep  what  promises 
to  be  the  best  bitch  in  each  litter  until  she  is  mature  or  at 
least  so  well  developed  that  it  is  possible  to  tell  with  near 


298  KENNEL  SECRETS. 

certainty  how  she  will  develop.      And    even    if  he  who 
follows  this  sells  all  his  dog  puppies  he  will  know  whether 
.  or  not  he  is  breeding  judiciously. 

To  make  good,  judicious  selections  from  large  litters 
within  the  first  week  is  impossible  in  most  instances,  for 
puppies  often  undergo  rapid  changes,  and  not  infrequently 
the  one  which  appears  the  least  robust  becomes  the  strong- 
est ere  the  weaning  is  reached.  Considering  this,  in 
every  case  where  the  litter  is  too  large  for  the  mother  to 
nurse  safely  and  it  must  be  weeded,  he  who  is  in  doubt 
should  try  to  nourish  artificially  what  appears  to  him  to  be 
the  poorest  of  it. 

As  for  minor  defects,  they  sometimes  remain  concealed 
until  the  victims  are  well  on  towards  maturity.  In  fact,  in 
not  a  few  instances  what  has  seemed  to  be  the  best  puppy 
in  the  litter  has  fallen  off  between  the  sixth  and  eighth 
months  and  ultimately  proved  one  of  the  poorest.  In  some 
instances,  also,  the  least  promising  has  even  at  a  later  age 
taken  a  tremendous  stride  in  the  way  of  improvement  and 
jumped  to  the  front  rank. 

Manifestly,  therefore,  to  make  judicious  selections  early 
will  never  be  easy,  and  oftentimes  impossible  except  in  the 
presence  of  deformities  or  decided  feebleness,  or  on  the 
basis  of  color  and  markings.  However,  he  is  not  likely 
to  fall  into  many  and  grievous  mistakes  who  is  influenced 
by  the  condition  of  health  and  outward  appearance,  and 
gives  the  preference  to  the  best-looking  as  well  as  the 
hardiest  and  most  active  puppies. 

Some  fanciers  sell  their  poorest  puppies  first  and  keep 
their  best  until  the  last.  This  rule  does  not  conflict  with 
that  laid  down  in  the  foregoing,  — never  allow  bad  speci- 
mens to  go  out  at  any  price,  —  and  it  can  wisely  be  adhered 
to  in  the  absence  of  contract,  for  in  order  to  make  breed- 
ing successful  in  a  monetary  sense  it  is  necessary  to  put. 


EARLIEST  PUPPYHOOD.  299 

before  the  public,  at  dog  shows,  unmistakable  evidences  of 
the  worth  of  the  stock  in  use.  Moreover,  puppies  of  un- 
usual merit  gain  rapidly  in  value  as  age  progresses  ;  and  as 
kennels  but  seldom  prove  profitable,  the  breeders,  of  all 
others,  deserve  the  happy  "  windfalls." 

As  stated,  the  age  at  which  puppies  that  have  been 
pre-engaged  are  generally  shipped  from  the  kennels  is  the 
eighth  week  ;  which  is  none  too  early,  because  in  most 
cases  the  earlier  a  puppy  is  in  his  new  home  the  better  for 
him  and  others  concerned,  since  the  purchaser,  if  having 
but  one  dog  to  care  for,  can  give  him  much  better  treatment 
than  he  would  likely  receive  in  his  old  home ;  moreover, 
under  ordinary  conditions,  when  alone  a  puppy  thrives  far 
better,  has  higher  health  and  is  much  less  liable  to  fall  a 
victim  to  disease  than  while  with  his  mates. 

This  fact  deserves  to  be  dwelt  upon  in  the  interests  of 
breeders  who  are  often  inclined  to  refuse  fair  offers  and 
allow  their  puppies  to  accumulate  that  they  may  be  sure 
of  the  best  among  them.  Such  policy  rarely  proves  other- 
wise than  short-sighted,  for  with  dogs,  young  or  old,  as 
with  members  of  the  human  family,  the  nearer  they  live 
to  each  other  the  greater  the  danger  of  sickness  ;  and  where 
four,  five  or  more  are  quartered  together,  the  death  rate, 
as  in  tenement  houses,  must  inevitably  be  higher  than 
where  there  is  less  crowding.  Again,  strangely  perhaps, 
even  at  the  same  prices  oftentimes  puppies  of  average 
merit  are  in  greater  demand  when  two  or  three  months 
old  than  others  twice  this  age.  Then  there  is  the  cost 
of  keeping  to  be  considered,  and  this  is  by  no  means  a 
trifling  item.  Finally,  specimens  of  exceeding  merit 
and  considerable  value  are  "few  and  far  between,"  and 
one  might  breed  a  long  time  even  with  the  best  of  stock 
before  he  materialized  a  wonder.  And  even  such  happy 
result  might  bring  him  greater  gain  in  the  hands  of  another. 


300 


KENNEL   SECRETS. 


Hence  it  is  advisable  for  breeders  to  dispose  of  the  most 
of  their  young  stock  as  spefedily  as  possible,  and  even  let 
their  choicest  go  when  good  prices  are  offered,  unless  of 
course  they  are  sure  winners  of  the  blue,  in  which  event 
the  question  of  selling  should  be  considered  long  and 
well. 

A  word  further  as  to  shipping  puppies.  It  is  not  becom- 
ing a  breeder  to  use  store  boxes  and  other  two-penny, 
unsightly  and  uncomfortable  affairs  unless  they  are  prop- 
erly built  over  ;  and  really  it  is  more  economical,  and  far 
more  to  his  credit,  to  have  crates  made  for  him,  costing  as 
they  do  but  a  mere  trifle.  Or  if  his  puppies  are  of  large 
size  he  will  do  well  to  provide  himself  with  wicker  ham- 
pers; and  those  used  in  importing  seltzer  and  other  mineral 
waters  will  often  do  nicely.  With  a  piece  of  carpeting  in 
the  bottom  and  a  little  straw  over  it,  one  of  these  is  ready 
for  a  puppy,  and  besides  being  of  light  weight,  ample  in 
size,  capable  of  good  ventilation  and  yet  affording  protec- 
tion from  draughts,  it  cannot  be  packed  too  closely  with 
other  baggage  on  account  of  its  barrel-like  shape. 

In  a  suitable  crate  —  made  as  light-weight  as  possible 
always  —  to  which  is  attached  a  feeding-pan,  and  ample 
directions  as  to  the  hours  of  feeding  and  the  quantity  to 
be  given  at  each  meal,  a  puppy  barely  eight  weeks  old 
ought  to  make  several  days'  journey  and  reach  his  desti- 
nation in  good  condition. 

There  are  so  many  absurd  notions  about  teething  the 
subject  is  deserving  of  at  least  brief  consideration  here. 

As  the  permanent  teeth  are  developed  they  cause  absorp- 
tion in  the  roots  of  the  first  and  temporary  teeth,  which 
eventually  become  loose,  and  when  so  they  have  fulfilled 
their  purpose  and  can  properly  be  extracted.  Yet  instru- 
ments ought  not  to  be  used  on  them  except  in  rare  cases,  for 
when  it  is  time  for  them  to  come  out  they  can  be  easily 


PUGS. 


lillVG    OF   I>IAM03fI>S. 


MAYOU    OF    I^KKDS. 


I.Oltl*  t  i>ovi:u. 


JtOASOK." 


BLA<'K   PITGS. 


Tin:    BLACK    <'011I>K1»    POOIH.K.    "JOK   II. 


EARLIEST  PUPPYHOOD.  30I 

removed  by  firm  pressure  to  one  side  with  the  thumb  or 
forefinger. 

Some  writers  have  urged  extraction  of  old  teeth  before 
they  have  loosened  in  all  cases  where  they  appear  likely  to 
displace  the  new,  thinking  thereby  to  prevent  irregularity 
in  the  permanent.  But  this  is  not  advisable,  because  in- 
stead of  obviating  threatened  deformity  it  is  quite  sure  to 
increase  the  danger  of  it,  for  if  an  old  tooth  is  extracted 
before  the  new  one  is  well  formed  and  pushing  it  out,  the 
teeth  at  the  sides  of  it  will  encroach  upon  the  vacant  space, 
and  finally  when  the  new  one  tries  to  come  through  it  finds 
its  rightful  way  difficult  or  blocked,  and  pushes  through 
where  it  can  do  so  the  most  easily,  but  outside  of  the  line 
of  the  other  teeth. 

Consequently,  as  a  rule,  only  when  the  old  teeth  are 
loosened  and  must  soon  fall  out  if  left  to  themselves  should 
they  be  removed. 

As  for  the  notion  that  convulsions  or  other  serious 
results  are  caused  by  swallowing  teeth,  that  is  all  moon- 
shine, for  the  tooth  of  a  puppy  is  not  at  all  likely  to  meet 
with  any  difficulty  or  excite  any  disturbance  in  its  transit 
through  the  body. 

There  remain  to  be  considered  docking  and  the  removal 
of  dew-claws,  and  as  the  writer  is  without  experience  in 
either  he  has  turned  to  his  friend,  H.  Clay  Glover,  D.V.S., 
of  New  York,  who  has  kindly  responded  with  the  follow- 
ing brief  discussion :  — 

The  practice  of  docking,  which  has  been  in  vogue  many 
years,  does  not  in  any  way  add  to  the  utility  of  the  dog, 
and  the  only  object  of  it  is  improvement  in  the  appear- 
ance of  the  animal.  The  breeds  generally  subjected  to 
the  operation  are  cocker,  clumber  and  field  spaniels,  all 
varieties  of  toy  spaniels,  airedale,  Welsh,  Irish  and  fox 
terriers,  and   a   few   other  breeds,  including  the  bob-tail 


302  KENNEL  SECRETS. 

sheep  dog,  which  is  not,  as  some  suppose,  generally  born 
without  full  length  of  tail,  although  occasional  instances 
of  its  being  wanting  very  likely  occur. 

An  old  practice  was  that  of  removing  two,  three  or 
more  joints  from  the  tails  of  pointers  and  setters,  the 
reason  advanced  being  that  they  were  less  liable  to  keep 
the  ends  sore  from  whipping  in  the  brush.  But  this  has 
fortunately  fallen  into  disuse. 

Docking  is  best  done  about  the  tenth  day  after  birth, 
as  the  bone  is  then  scarcely  more  than  cartilage,  and  only 
trifling  hemorrhage  results.  The  operation  consists  in 
simply  removing  as  much  of  the  tail  as  desired,  and  by 
the  means  of  very  blunt  scissors,  that  the  tendons  may  be 
drawn  out  —  not  severed  as  would  be  the  case  were  a 
sharp  instrument  employed.  And  drawing  the  tendons 
leads  to  a  lower  carriage  of  the  tail,  which  is  desirable,  as 
most  of  the  short-tail  kind  are  inclined  to  carry  this  appen- 
dage too  high. 

In  docking  mature  animals  and  a  nice  finish  is  desired, 
an  incision  should  be  made  obliquely  on  both  sides  of  the 
tail,  which  should  then  be  unjointed,  the  lateral  sacral 
artery  taken  up  and  the  edges  of  the  flaps  drawn  and 
stitched  together.  After  which  the  patient  should  be 
muzzled  to  prevent  his  disturbing  the  stitches.  While 
operating,  the  tail  should  be  very  tightly  ligated  at  the 
base  to  obviate  hemorrhage.  In  dressing  the  wound  the 
ordinary  antiseptic  precautions  should  be  taken,  as  after 
all  operations. 

Dew-claws  are  simply  supplementary  toes  on  the  insides 
of  the  hind  legs,  slightly  above  the  feet.  There  was  a 
time  when  some  value  was  attached  to  them  in  St.  Ber- 
nards by  authorities  and  breeders,  it  being  held  that  they 
were  of  assistance  to  these  animals  and  prevented  their 
breaking  through  the  snow.     They  were  also  considered 


EARLIEST  PUPPYHOOD.  303 

an  evidence  of  good  breeding.  Yet  they  are  of  no  possi- 
ble benefit  to  the  dog ;  in  fact  they  are  a  detriment,  liable 
as  they  are  to  become  torn  and  sore  from  contact  with  ice, 
briers  or  sharp  grass.  Moreover,  these  claws  are  singu- 
larly inclined  to  cut  into  the  flesh,  since  not  being  in  use 
like  the  other  claws  they  are  not  worn  down. 

Dew-claws  appearing  in  other  than  St.  Bernards  are 
regarded  with  suspicion  by  some  as  evidence  of  impure 
breeding.  But  this  is  a  mistaken  notion,  for  they  may 
appear  on  any  breed  of  dogs,  even  of  the  bluest  blood. 
And  in  my  opinion  they  should  be  removed  in  all  instances. 
As  for  double  dew-claws,  I  consider  them  not  only  useless 
but  hideous  monstrosities,  which  tend  to  turn  the  feet  out 
and  the  hocks  in  —  or  at  least  they  appear  to  do  this  in 
large  breeds.  Furthermore,  the  legs  have  a  much  cleaner 
and  more  trim  look  without  them. 

The  removal  of  dew-claws  should  be  effected  shortly 
after  weaning  and  the  puppies  have  been  separated  from 
their  mother,  who  might  disturb  or  tear  off  the  bandages. 
If  merely  fastened  to  the  skin  they  may  be  clipped  with 
sharp  scissors  ;  and  this  instrument  will  answer  every  pur- 
pose even  when  they  are  attached  to  tendons.  But  when 
fixed  to  the  canon  —  metatarsal  bone  —  it  will  be  neces- 
sary to  dissect  them  from  the  bone ;  in  doing  which  the 
operator  should  avoid  the  internal  saphenous  vein.  And 
were  this  accidentally  cut  it  should  be  ligated. 

If  the  wound  is  of  sufficient  importance  the  edges 
should  be  stitched  together  and  a  bandage  applied ;  and 
the  same  should  be  kept  on  until  healing  has  occurred, 
which  usually  requires  from  seven  to  ten  days.  Some  do 
not  bandage  after  the  operation,  but  it  should  be  the  rule, 
for  the  purpose  of  keeping  the  wound  clean  and  its  edges 
together.  A  rubber  ligature  around  the  leg  above  the 
hock  will  generally  be  advisable  while  operating  in  diffi- 
cult cases. 


CHAPTER   VII. 

TRAINING. 

Training  is  a  wide  subject,  and  of  much  too  great 
importance  to  warrant  mere  touch,  as  would  only  be  pos- 
sible in  this  book ;  moreover,  there  are  but  few  men 
capable  of  handling  it  as  it  deserves,  for  an  accurate 
knowledge  of  one  department  simply  —  that  which  bears 
upon  field  work  —  can  be  acquired  only  by  those  en- 
dowed with  eminent  qualities,  and  after  years  of  personal 
observation  and  practical  experience.  The  writer  might, 
of  course,  wander  over  this  vast  field  and  point  out  some 
of  the  landmarks,  but  there  are  others  more  familiar  with 
many  parts  of  it  than  he  ;  hence  he  limits  his  efforts  to 
general  rules  and  admonitions  that  will  favor  correct 
every-day  behavior  and  habits  in  and  about  the  home,  and 
urges  the  reader  who  has  a  dog  that  he  wishes  to  train 
for  special  work  to  provide  himself  with  a  guide  in  the 
form  of  a  treatise  by  some  recognized  authority. 

The  education  of  puppies  may  commence  at  a  very  early 
age,  but  efforts  must  for  the  first  few  months  be  largely 
directed  to  the  cultivation  of  specific  virtues,  as  cleanli- 
ness, obedience,  etc.  And  while  aiming  to  make  the 
exercise  of  these  virtues  habitual,  bad  habits  must  be 
anticipated  and  prevented  if  possible. 

304 


TRAINING.  305 

Puppies  that  have  yards  connected  with  their  kennels 
and  they  are  accessible  day  and  night,  soon  become  vol- 
untarily cleanly ;  and  until  they  do  so  the  droppings  should 
be  removed  once  or  twice  daily  and  the  floors  treated  to 
a  deodorizer. 

House-breaking  should  never  be  thought  of  during  cold 
weather,  as  cleanliness  in  habit  is  then  out  of  the  question, 
for  in  order  to  promote  it  a  puppy  must  be  put  out  of 
doors  not  less  often  than  once  an  hour.  Nor  must  he  be 
permitted  to  pass  a  night  in  the  house  before  he  is  five  or 
six  months  old  ;  at  which  age  this  virtue  will  ordinarily 
have  become  fixed  if  invariably  practised  during  the  day. 
And  in  the  absence  of  a  convenient  outbuilding  for  sleep- 
ing quarters  he  should  be  put  into  some  other  room  than 
that  which  he  is  allowed  to  occupy  during  the  day,  to- 
gether with  a  shallow  box  of  sawdust  or  dry  earth,  to 
which  he  will  soon  learn  to  turn,  provided  for  a  few  nights 
it  holds  one  of  his  droppings. 

A  custom  of  many  people  who  attempt  to  teach  pup- 
pies neatness  is  to  bedabble  their  noses  with  filth  and 
toss  them  out  of  doors.  It  ought  not  to  be  necessary  to 
urge  that  this  is  as  stupid  as  it  is  nasty,  and  that  the 
infliction  is  no  more  effectual  than  a  scolding  adminis- 
tered while  the  offender  is  held  close  to  the  soiled  spot. 
Accepting  the  facts  that  dogs  inherently  are  far  from 
being  filthy  animals,  that  they  are  uncleanly  in  their 
habits  only  when  their  natural  tendencies  have  been  per- 
verted by  restraint  or  neglect,  also,  that  they  are  capable 
of  some  understanding  at  a  very  early  age,  such  beastly 
practices  as  this  will  never  be  indulged  in  by  people  of 
sense  who  undertake  to  teach  them  correct  deportment. 

It  is  a  well-known  maxim  that  first  impressions  strike 
the  deepest.  And  he  who  assumes  the  education  of  a 
puppy  will  do  well  to  keep  this  ever  in  mind.     Beginners 


306  KENNEL  SECRETS. 

who  are  not  breeders  are,  as  a  rule,  at  fault  in  the  intro- 
duction of  puppies  to  their  new  homes,  where  they  are 
generally  cordially  welcomed  and  made  much  of  by  all  in 
the  family,  and  when  night  comes  given  places  in  the 
kitchen,  the  basement,  or,  perhaps,  in  the  sleeping-rooms 
of  some  of  the  younger  members.  Innocently  enough, 
being  unbroken,  they  prove  something  of  a  nuisance,  but 
are  usually  tolerated  for  a  few  nights,  when  becoming  too 
much  of  an  infliction  they  are  put  into  the  wood-shed  or 
other  outbuilding  to  sleep.  Against  this  treatment  a 
vigorous  protest  naturally  follows,  and  oftener  than  other- 
wise it  is  successful  ere  midnight,  and  they  are  brought 
back  to  the  quarters  to  which  they  had  so  soon  grown 
habituated. 

The  writer  has  found  it  only  a  pleasure  to  share  his 
comforts  with  his  humble  friends  ;  in  fact,  during  the  last 
ten  years  not  less  than  four  of  them  have  lived  under  his 
roof,  where  they  have  been  literally  as  much  at  home  as 
himself  ;  manifestly,  therefore,  he  has  no  prejudice  against 
allowing  dogs  in  the  house.  But  the  line  must  be  drawn 
at  unbroken  puppies,  or  at  least  all  such  should  be  ex- 
cluded nights  until  habits  of  cleanliness  have  become 
fixed. 

At  once  after  reaching  their  new  homes  puppies  should 
in  every  instance  be  put  into  kennels  or  other  quarters 
prepared  for  them,  and  for  forty-eight  hours  they  should 
see  but  little  of  their  new  owners  except  at  feeding  times  ; 
at  the  end  of  which  period  they  will  have  become  accus- 
tomed to  their  changed  surroundings  and  quite  content 
with  them.  More  than  likely,  of  course,  they  will  cry 
during  the  first  night,  but  it  being  accepted  that  nothing 
will  pacify  them  except  companionship  they  should  be  left 
absolutely  to  themselves,  to  "have  it  out." 

Very  short  visits  to  the  house  should  be  the  rule  at  first, 


TRAINING. 


307 


and  where  this  is  observed  puppies  will  soon  be  free  from 
their  most  objectionable  habit.  And  cleanliness  estab- 
lished, one  of  the  greatest  difficulties  has  been  over- 
come, while  what  is  to  follow  will  be  comparatively  easy  if 
good  judgment,  patience  and  perseverance  are  invariably 
exhibited. 

Dogs  are  not  human,  yet  they  are  not  far  removed,  and 
that  they  are  capable  of  reasoning  at  a  very  early  age  is 
plainly  evident  from  the  fact  that  invariably  when  ad- 
mitted on  the  same  footing  to  several  persons  they  single 
out  some  one  for  whom  they  show  a  marked  preference. 
The  infant  barely  six  weeks  old,  and  while  still  a  stranger 
to  the  world,  will  respond  to  human  expression,  for  a 
smiling  air  or  cooing  sound  raises  a  smile  to  his  lips, 
showing  that  sympathy  is  already  at  work.  So  it  is  with 
the  puppy.  While  yet  his  brain  is  comparatively  inert  he 
is  accessible  to  influences,  whether  kindly  or  unkindly, 
and  these  impress  him  more  and  more  forcibly  as  he 
grows  older.  Therefore,  in  efforts  to  teach  him  and  reg- 
ulate his  conduct,  as  with  the  child,  there  should  be  habit- 
ually exhibited  those  qualities  which  the  educator  desires 
him  to  possess.  In  other  words,  that  he  may  be  kind, 
gentle,  affectionate,  intelligent  and  courageous,  he  must 
grow  up  under  a  master  or  mistress  who  is  naturally  all 
this,  or  whose  conflicting  humors  are  under  wholesome 
restraint. 

There  is  no  difficulty  in  fixing  the  time  at  which  the 
education  of  a  puppy  should  commence,  for  a  person  of  in- 
telligence can  always  detect  when  the  little  one  is  capable 
of  reasoning.  This  stage  reached,  he  should  be  subjected 
to  salutary  restraint  and  prevented  if  possible  from  acquir- 
ing bad  habits.  Moreover,  every  time  he  falls  very  far 
from  grace  he  should  be  at  once  corrected  for  it.  The 
reader  must  not  assume  from  this  that  rigid  propriety  is 


308  KENNEL  SECRETS. 

to  be  enforced  or  severe  punishment  inflicted  for  every 
breach.  The  idea  that  the  writer  desires  to  convey  is, 
that  precisely  the  same  methods  of  restraint  and  correc- 
tion—  and  no  more  exacting  —  should  be  employed  with 
him  that  a  wise  parent  would  employ  with  her  child 
while  yet  it  was  strong  in  impulses  but  poor  in  will-power. 
In  a  word,  let  the  first  treatment  which  is  administered  to 
a  puppy  be  much  the  same  as  that  which  reason  tells  is 
right  and  proper  for  a  child  between  one  and  two  years 
of  age. 

Puppies  acquire  powers  of  discernment  with  very  great 
rapidity,  and  where  they  are  much  with  their  masters  or 
mistresses  they  are  soon  able  to  detect  changes  in  humor 
by  the  voice,  hence  are  almost,  if  not  quite,  as  easily 
influenced  as  a  child ;  and  when  they  do  wrong  a  mild 
scolding  and  a  tap  of  the  hand  will  generally  be  sufficient 
penalty. 

Perversity  and  self-will  are,  of  course,  inevitable  in  all 
higher  orders  of  animals,  and  unless  held  in  check  until 
reason  asserts  itself  they  are  sure  to  warp  the  nature  and 
make  no  end  of  trouble  in  the  future ;  therefore,  obedi- 
ence is  a  quality  that  must  be  fixed  at  the  earliest  possible 
ao-e  Nor  will  this  be  difficult  if  correct  methods  are 
employed,  although,  unfortunately,  many  who  attempt  the 
training  of  puppies  stray  at  this  point,  and  by  impatience 
and  severity  break  their  spirits  if  their  tempers  are  mild, 
or  if  they  are  unusually  obstinate,  render  them  more 
wilfull  as  well  as  dull  and  surly. 

It  is  not  too  much  to  say  that  all  puppies  under  judicious 
management  from  the  first  can  be  thoroughly  trained 
and  governed  ever  afterward  by  kindness,  for  surely  no 
other  animals  are  endowed  with  natures  so  affectionate, 
honest  and  loyal  as  their  kind  ;  and  with  these  qualities 
an  anxiety  to  please  can  never  be  found  wanting.     Con- 


TRAINIIS^.  309 

sidering  which,  no  sounder  advice  than  this  can  be  given 
beginners  :  Open  the  way  to  this  natural  disposition  to 
please.  Be  ever  kind  and  patient  with  your  charges. 
Never  give  an  order  either  in  or  out  of  the  house  without 
making  them  obey  —  provided  always  you  are  sure  that 
they  understand  what  you  want.  Emphasize  your  orders 
by  pointing  or  other  motions  which  they  can  interpret. 
Speak  encouragingly  but  firmly  —  never  much  above  a 
conversational  tone  if  it  will  reach  them  —  and  as  briefly 
as  possible,  else  you  will  confuse  them.  Let  your  man- 
ner slightly  increase  in  earnestness  as  they  are  about  to 
obey  and  while  doing  so.  And  when  each  required  act 
has  been  performed  show  your  approval  by  a  few  pats  on 
the  head  or  some  toothsome  morsel.  Above  all  avoid 
nagging,  expect  nothing  unreasonable,  and  let  your  lessons 
and  orders  be  as  few  and  far  between  as  possible  at 
first,  otherwise  your  puppies  may  regard  you  in  the  light 
of  an  infliction. 

There  are  times  when  puppies,  no  matter  how  obedient 
usually,  are  likely  to  prove  intractable,  and  at  such  the 
easiest  way  out  of  the  difficulty  is  the  best.  For  in- 
stance, if  a  puppy,  brimful  of  vitality  and  play,  is  on 
a  romp  with  an  acquaintance  of  his  kind  he  is  scarcely 
likely  to  respond  to  a  call  uttered  several  hundred  yards 
away  ;  consequently  his  master,  if  intelligent,  would  natu- 
rally withhold  it  until  he  had  gone  near  enough  to  be 
able  to  enforce  obedience.  Here,  again,  many  beginners 
stumble  badly  by  severely  whipping  their  puppies  when 
they  fail  to  respond  ;  in  consequence  of  which  treatment 
for  a  long  time  afterwards  they  very  generally  run  from 
them  on  like  occasions  ;  whereas  the  only  sensible 
method  to  be  employed  under  these  conditions  is  to 
catch  the  culprit  by  the  collar  and  gently  lead  or  draw 
him    in    the    direction    from   which    the   call   was    sent, 


310  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

rebuking  him  meanwhile,  and  after  proceeding  a  short 
distance  stop  and  reassure  him  with  a  few  pats  ;  then, 
for  a  time,  to  be  even  more  kindly  demonstrative  than 
usual.  Teasing  and  over-petting  are  also  errors  that 
beginners  are  especially  liable  to  fall  into,  the  one  inevi- 
tably injuring  the  temper  and  exciting  aversion  towards 
the  offender,  while  the  other  is  absolutely  incompatible 
with  implicit  obedience. 

The  importance  of  instilling  good  habits  at  the  earliest 
possible  age  is  by  no  means  always  appreciated  by  those 
who  undertake  the  education  of  puppies,  and  frequently 
traits  are  encouraged  that  sooner  or  later  must  prove 
extremely  annoying.  One  of  these  is,  emphasizing  every 
affectionate  greeting  with  the  forefeet  —  an  act  which,  of 
Kcourse,  no  person  neatly  dressed  can  tolerate.  This  ten- 
dency seems  quite  uncontrollable  during  the  first  few 
weeks  of  life,  yet  it  can  soon  be  overcome  if  patience  and 
firmness  are  exhibited  from  the  first,  and  the  forefeet  of 
the  offender  are  invariably  tapped  and  he  is  forced  back 
on  all  fours.  But  assuming  that  a  puppy  has  reached  his 
sixth  or  seventh  month  and  this  bad  habit  exists,  the 
following  method,  recommended  by  Mr.  Waters  in  his 
most  valuable  work,  "  Modern  Training  and  Handling," 
should  be  resorted  to  :  When  the  puppy  places  his  fore- 
feet upon  the  person,  grasp  a  foot  gently  but  firmly  in 
each  hand,  speaking  to  him  in  the  blandest  tones  and  the 
choicest  pet  phrases,  the  manner  being  the  perfection  of 
kindness,  at  the  same  time  stepping  on  his  hind  feet  just 
hard  enough  to  pinch  them.  He  will  soon  endeavor  to 
break  away,  notwithstanding  the  kindness  of  manner ; 
but  the  punishment  should  be  continued  a  few  minutes 
before  releasing  him.  Soon  thereafter  call  him  up  and 
repeat  the  lesson.  Usually  two  or  three  of  these  simple 
lessons  are  ample.     He  cannot  then  be  induced  to  put  his 


TRAINING. 


311 


feet  on  the  person.  Occasionally,  at  long  intervals,  he 
may  forget  himself  for  a  moment,  but  the  slightest 
reminder  adjusts   him   to   instant   correctness. 

The  habit  of  barking  is  another  extremely  unpleasant 
fault,  and  once  settled  it  is  scarcely  possible  to  overcome 
it  except  by  the  whip,  which  it  must  be  borne  in  mind 
should  never  be  used  except  at  the  immediate  time  of  the 
offence. 

A  few  words  here  regarding  corporal  punishment. 
Undeniably  in  some  instances  it  is  salutary,  but  as  a  rule 
it  is  absolutely  pernicious  ;  moreover,  the  infinite  majority 
of  dogs  can  be  governed  by  kindness  purely.  And  cer- 
tainly nothing  approaching  nearer  such  punishment  than 
smart  taps  with  the  hand  should  ever  be  administered  to 
young  puppies.  After  the  sixth  or  seventh  month,  where 
mild  measures  fail  the  only  proper  means  of  correction  is 
the  whip,  but  the  use  of  it  even  then  can  be  justifiable 
only  after  acts  of  positive  disobedience  and  wilfulness  ; 
and  before  maturity  severe  applications  of  it  are  rarely 
ever  required.  The  writer  has  never  found  occasion  to 
resort  to  the  whip,  for  suasion  has  always  proved  potent 
with  him,  yet  he  has  noted  some  instances  where  had  he 
been  the  owner  of  the  dogs  he  would  have  applied  it,  and 
perhaps  vigorously.  In  all  these,  however,  manifestly 
there  had  been  a  woful  lack  of  proper  management  during 
early  life. 

While  the  opponents  to  the  use  of  the  whip  are  many, 
it  is  a  significant  fact  that  none  of  the  notable  trainers- 
appear  in  their  ranks  ;  and  what  is  still  more  surprising, 
with  no  small  proportion  of  these  same  people  who  de- 
nounce it  kicking  is  the  popular  substitute.  It  ought  not 
to  be  necessary  to  urge  that  neither  this  nor  the  use  of 
the  broom  handle  or  like  instrument  is  ever  pardonable, 
nor  will  they  suggest  themselves  to  other  than  brutes. 


312  KENNEL  SECRETS. 

Beyond  being  accustomed  to  wearing  a  collar  and  led 
about,  taught  to  come  when  called  by  name,  lie  down, 
and  obey  a  few  other  common  orders,  puppies  of  non- 
sporting  breeds  do  not  require  any  formal  course  of  train- 
ing, for  if  they  are  given  their  liberty  from  the  very  first 
and  admitted  often  to  the  house,  are  much  in  the  com- 
pany of  the  members  of  the  family,  and  restrained  or  en- 
couraged as  is  necessary,  they  will,  if  naturally  intelligent, 
in  time  not  only  acquire  surprisingly  good  manners  but 
very  nice  discrimination.  Nature  is  not,  of  course,  alike 
bountiful  to  all,  nor  are  all  puppies  equally  gifted  with 
powers  of  observation,  but  the  infinite  majority  when  un- 
der favorable  conditions  can,  as  said,  be  safely  left  much 
to  themselves  to  learn  by  association. 

The  foolish  notion  is  very  prevalent  that  puppies  in- 
tended as  guards  should  be  put  on  the  chain  at  a  very 
early  age  that  they  may  know  none  others  than  the  mem- 
bers of  their  own  families.  As  a  matter  of  fact  such 
treatment  dulls  understanding  as  well  as  warps  body  and 
limbs,  and  the  victims  become  in  consequence  merely 
noisy  and  dangerous  machines.  A  puppy  can  never  be 
made  a  good,  safe  and  efficient  guard  by  any  such  means 
as  this,  and  instead  of  being  put  into  seclusion  he  should 
be  given  the  liberty  of  his  master's  premises,  where  it  will 
be  possible  for  his  instincts  and  faculties  to  develop. 
Meeting  then  all  classes  of  callers  he  will  soon  learn  from 
the  manner  of  his  people  and  by  outward  signs,  as  dress, 
speech,  etc.,  to  discriminate  between  those  to  be  readily 
admitted  and  others  who  should  be  regarded  with  sus- 
picion. He  should  also  be  widely  introduced  to  his  own 
kind,  a  familiarity  with  which  begets  courage  and  an  easy, 
self-confident  bearing. 

To  teach  all  puppies,  of  whatever  breeds,  to  retrieve  is 
always  a  wise  plan,  for  the  accomplishment  can  be  utilized 


TRAINING. 


313 


in  exercising  even  if  not  absolutely  an  essential  part  of 
the  education.  But  this  is  within  the  province  upon  which 
the  writer  does  not  care  to  intrude,  and  he  advises  all 
who  would  train  their  dogs  to  provide  themselves  with 
the  book  already  alluded  to,  "  Modern  Training  and  Hand- 
ling," from  the  pen  of  Mr.  B.  Waters,  who  is  the  acknowl- 
edged authority  on  field  trials,  handling  and  kindred 
subjects. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


INTESTINAL    PARASITES. 


The  species  of  worm  with  which  puppies  are  most  often 
infested  is  the  Ascaris  marginata,  called  also  the  Ascaris 
liimbricoidcs  and  round  worm,  which  has  a  certain  super- 
ficial resemblance  to  the  common  earth-worm,  or  what 
boys  in  the  country  are  accustomed  to  term  angler's  worm. 
This  is  cylindrical,  tapers  at  both  extremities,  is  slightly 
pinkish  in  color,  and  under  the  knife,  unless  the  same  is 
very  sharp,  offers  considerable  resistance,  and  when  mature 
cuts  like  India-rubber.  Full  growth  having  been  attained 
it  is  from  two  to  six  inches  in  length  ;  but  the  worms 
found  in  puppies  under  four  weeks  of  age  usually  measure 
from  two  to  four  inches.  And  they  much  resemble  pieces 
of  cotton  twine. 

It  is  not  positively  known  in  what  ways  puppies  acquire 
worms,  but  it  is  highly  probable  that  they  oftentimes 
swallow  the  eggs  and  larvae  directly,  also  take  them  up 
with  their  food  and  drink.  And  certainly  very  generally 
the  most  favorable  opportunities  for  infection  are  afforded, 
as  will  appear  from  the  following  :  — 

The  eggs  are  laid  in  the  intestines  of  their  hosts  and 
expelled  with  the  waste  matters,  in  great  numbers  and 
sometimes  in  great  masses,  and  once  in  the  world  they 

314 


INTESTINAL  PARASITES.  3  15 

retain  their  vitality  for  a  long  time.  But  after  being 
expelled  it  is  necessary  for  these  eggs  to  mature,  and  con- 
ditions favorable  for  their  doing  so  are  found  in  faecal  mat- 
ter, water  or  damp  places ;  and  this  essential  stage  of 
development  having  been  completed  all  is  in  readiness  for 
the  final  stage.  Now  let  the  eggs  be  taken  up  and  enter 
the  stomach,  and  the  young  worms  will  burst  the  shells 
and  speedily  mature. 

Such,  in  brief,  is  the  course  of  infection  with  this  worm; 
and  considering  the  ease  with  which  it  occurs  it  is  not  at 
all  surprising  that  puppies  rarely  escape  it. 

A  mother  harboring  the  pests  is  constantly  throwing 
out  of  her  body  immense  numbers  of  eggs,  and  these  are 
deposited  about  in  her  kennel  and  yard,  in  which,  even  if 
the  faecal  matter  is  removed  daily,  some  are  sure  to  be  left 
and  find  here  and  there,  upon  the  floor,  sleeping-bench 
and  ground,  the  moisture  which  is  necessary  for  their 
development.  Ignoring  the  danger  of  self-reinfection,  and 
assuming  that  she  herself  has  been  treated  for  worms  and 
all  have  been  expelled,  she  must  inevitably  take  immense 
numbers  of  these  eggs  up  in  her  coat  and  carry  them  with 
her  wherever  she  goes.  Consequently,  if  removed  from 
her  usual  quarters  to  whelp,  her  new  quarters  must  soon 
become  infested,  the  eggs  being  deposited  over  the  floor, 
on  her  bedding,  etc. 

Clearly  there  is  now  absolutely  nothing  to  prevent  her 
puppies  from  ingesting  these  eggs,  even  during  the  first 
days  of  life,  and  swallowing  them  directly  from  her  breasts, 
hair,  bedding  or  the  floor ;  and  even  did  infection  not 
occur  in  this  way  it  must  subsequently  occur  through  the 
food  or  drinking  water,  from  which  it  would  be  simply 
impossible  to  keep  the  eggs,  scattered  about  in  such  abun- 
dance. 

Considering  the  size  which  worms  in  puppies  have  usu- 


3l6  KENNEL  SECRETS. 

ally  attained  by  the  third  week,  it  is  evident  that  infec- 
tion very  generally  occurs  early  in  the  first  week  ;  and 
such  being  the  case  the  eggs  must  be  swallowed  directly, 
the  same  being  lodged  upon  the  mother,  her  bedding,  etc. 

Now  will  be  seen  the  reasons  for  the  advice,  given  in  a 
previous  chapter,  that  the  bitch  in  pup  be  freed  from  worms 
if  possible,  and  she  and  her  quarters  be  thoroughly  cleaned 
and  disinfected  a  day  or  two  before  whelping.  And  the 
importance  of  these  measures  cannot  be  too  strongly  urged, 
for  they  will  do  much  to  protect  puppies  from  their 
deadliest  foes. 

Undeniably  cleanliness  is  the  most  potent  safeguard 
against  infection  by  worms,  and  if  breeders  will  drive  them 
out  of  their  mature  dogs  and  afterwards  keep  their  ken- 
nels and  yards  clean,  their  puppies  will  be  far  less  frequent 
victims  of  them  than  under  less  favorable  conditions. 
Furthermore,  if  their  little  ones  then  become  infested  it 
will  likely  be  with  comparatively  small  numbers  only, 
which,  as  a  rule,  are  much  less  dangerous  to  life  than  large 
numbers. 

Efforts  to  secure  cleanliness  should  include  disinfection 
of  the  mother's  intestinal  discharges  in  the  whelping-room 
and  quarters  subsequently  occupied  by  her  and  her  little 
ones,  the  fact  being  duly  appreciated  that  she  might  be 
harboring  worms  and  not  manifest  any  suspicious  signs. 
And  for  this  purpose  quicklime  should  always  be  at  hand 
to  be  dropped  on  the  waste ;  and  that  removed,  the  soiled 
floor  should  be  washed  with  boiling  water,  by  which 
means  all  ova  not  touched  by  the  lime  would  be  speedily 
destroyed. 

The  symptoms  manifested  by  worms  very  generally 
depend  not  so  much  upon  the  mere  presence  of  the 
lodgers  as  upon  the  accompanying  and  peculiar  condition 
of  the  mucous  membrane  of  the  alimentary  canal.     And 


INTESTINA  L  PARA  SITES.  3  1 7 

this  is  one  of  irritation  with  an  excessive  production  of 
mucus ;  which  secretion  would  seem  essential  to  their 
development  and  existence. 

When  worms  are  present  in  large  numbers  very  much  if 
not  all  of  the  internal  surface  of  the  intestines  is,  as  a  rule, 
irritated  and  shares  in  this  mucous  flux,  but  when  the 
numbers  are  small,  portions  of  it  only  are  very  greatly 
affected  ;  and  these  are  in  proximity  to  the  pests. 

If  onlv  a  small  number  of  round  worms,  three  or  four, 
perhaps,  were  present  and  the  victim  well  on  the  way  to, 
or  had  passed,  maturity,  they  would  scarcely  give  rise  to 
very  marked  symptoms.  On  the  other  hand,  were  he  in 
the  first  months  of  life  and  the  number  small,  even,  they 
would  likely  prejudice  his  health  ;  while  were  they 
numerous  they  would  surely  start  a  long  train  of  evils 
which  would  be  very  liable  to  end  in  death. 

One  of  the  earliest  evidences  of  the  presence  of  worms 
is  the  appearance,  in  the  intestinal  discharges,  of  mucus, 
which  people  are  wont  to  term  "  slime."  This  manifested, 
although  at  first  the  bowels  may  move  with  normal  fre- 
quency, or  even  be  less  free  than  usual,  with  very  young 
puppies  certainly  it  is  seldom  long  before  diarrhoea  sets 
in,  in  consequence  of  the  irritation  of  the  presence  of  the 
worms. 

Now  this  symptom,  diarrhoea,  beyond  pointing  to  worms 
as  the  cause,  presents  peculiarities  which  are  instructive, 
for  they  indicate  with  some  degree  of  certainty  whether 
or  not  the  number  of  the  parasites  within  is  large  or  small. 
For  instance,  if  the  number  is  large  the  diarrhoea  is  gen- 
erally persistent ;  that  is,  it  occurs  day  after  day,  and 
the  discharges  are  thin,  scanty,  and  largely  made  up  of 
mucus,  which  is  usually  reddish  in  color  and  voided 
with  some  difficulty,  as  evinced  by  straining.  On  the  other 
hand,  if  the  number  of  worms  is  comparatively  small  the 


3l8  KENNEL   SECRETS. 

diarrhoea  is,  as  a  rule,  less  persistent,  and  may  be  present 
for  a  day  and  then  disappear,  not  to  return  again  for  several 
days  or  perhaps  a  week  or  more.  Usually,  also,  the  mucus, 
while  possibly  quite  abundant,  is  colorless  or  only  slightly 
pinkish,  and  rarely  is  it  of  as  deep  red  color  as  in  the  first 
instance. 

This  reddish  color,  by  the  way,  is  due  to  blood  which 
has  been  forced  into  the  mucous  and  submucous  tissues, 
and  its  presence  is  evidence  that  the  internal  surface  of 
the  intestines  is  inflamed.  Moreover,  the  deeper  the  color 
the  more  intense  and  extensive  this  inflammation. 

The  appetite  of  a  puppy  harboring  a  considerable  num- 
ber of  worms  generally  fails  at  first,  then  becomes  capri- 
cious, being  now  almost  absent,  and  again  well-nigh 
insatiable. 

This  calls  to  mind  the  absurd  notion  that  the  increased 
desire  for  food  in  these  cases  is  occasioned  by  the  clamor 
of  the  worms  for  better  support.  This  is  far  from  the 
truth,  for  the  change  is  partly  due  to  a  morbid  craving 
excited  by  the  irritation  which  is  caused  by  the  fer- 
menting contents  of  the  stomach  and  intestines,  diges- 
tion always  being  slow  where  these  pests  abound, 
and  partly  to  the  demand  of  the  tissues  generally 
for  more  nutriment  than  is  supplied  by  the  imperfect 
digestion  and  impeded  absorption  ;  while  the  defects  in 
digestion  and  absorption  are  due  to  the  mucous  flux 
already  alluded  to,  which,  covering  the  internal  surface  of 
the  intestinal  canal,  not  only  obstructs  the  flow  of  diges- 
tive fluids  but  the  absorption  and  passage  of  the  food  ele- 
ments into  circulation. 

Abdominal  distention  is  always  marked  where  there  is 
any  considerable  trouble  caused  by  worms,  and  although 
the  victim  may  eat  but  a  very  moderate  quantity  he  bloats 
up  with  astonishing  rapidity,  the  distention  being  due  to 


TOY  SPA1VIEL.S. 


Tlie   llleiilieiiii,   "  l>aiidy. 


Tlie  Kiil>y.  '"  Ku1»y  Princess." 


The   Piime  (  liarles,  ••  King  of  tlie   Fauey.' 


Japanese,  *■  Meiiii-.Satioii. 


King  Cliarles,  "Perseverance." 


Bf^EIVHEIM   SPA;\IEt,S. 


BOWSIE"    AiUD    <<BEACO:VSFIELn." 


HIA'lii    CHARLES   SPA:\IEr.S. 


'."■it 


m'CHESS  II." 


•jr>iBo  II." 


INTESTINAL  PARASITES.  3^9 

gas.     Vomiting  also  occurs   at   times,   and   in   occasional 
instances  worms  are  expelled  in  this  way. 

Obviously,  with  worms  interfering  with  digestion  and 
nutrition  a  victim  cannot  long  hold  his  own.  As  a  matter 
of  fact,  evidence  is  soon  manifested  that  he  is  not  thriving 
as  he  ought,  and  even  in  quite  mild  cases  the  skin  very 
generally  lacks  natural  softness  and  elasticity  and  the  coat 
is  dry  and  rough,  while  in  severe  cases  these  changes  are 
all  more  pronounced,  and  the  hair  sometimes  falls  out  in 
patches,  the  mucous  membrane  of  the  mouth  is  pale,  show- 
ing a  poverty  of  blood,  there  are  emaciation  and  lack  of 
strength,  and  in  some  cases  complete  paralysis  of  the  hind 
legs. 

But  the  worst  remains  to  be  told.  Worms  often  cause 
death  either  by  sapping  the  strength  of  their  victims, 
intestinal  obstruction,  convulsions,  secondary  affections,  or 
boring  through  the  intestines.  And  while  there  is  no 
knowing  which  of  these  causes  is  the  most  frequent,  there 
is  reason  for  believing  that  the  latter  is  not  the  least  so. 

As  a  rule,  the  anatomical  characters  presented  after 
death  by  round  worms  are,  redness,  swelling  and  softening 
of  the  lining  membrane  of  the  intestines.  These  changes 
may  be  limited  to  small  patches,  but  oftener  they  extend 
over  considerable  portions  of  the  internal  surface.  The 
lining  membrane  is  also  covered  with  a  tenacious  mucus, 
which  is  either  colorless  or  of  a  pinkish  or  brownish  red 
hue ;  while  if  perforation  has  occurred  there  appears  on 
close  examination  a  small  opening,  oval  in  shape,  in  the 
intestinal  wall  and  generally  through  the  base  of  a  gland. 

Now  to  consider  the  measures  of  treatment  required  by 
young  puppies  infested  with  worms.  Although  very 
many  drugs  have  been  credited  with  anthelmintic  proper- 
ties the  list  has  been  shortening  rapidly  of  late  years,  and 
at  the  present  time  powdered  areca  nut,  santonin  and  the 


320  KENNEL  SECRETS. 

oils  of  wormseed  and  male  fern  are  mainly  relied  upon. 
These  are  highly  efficacious  and  safe  when  wisely  employed. 
But  all  are  to  a  certain  extent  absorbed  by  the  system, 
some  depress  it  more  than  others,  and  all  have  peculiar 
properties  which  specially  recommend  them  for  certain 
kinds  of  worms,  consequently  that  the  best  results  may  be 
attained  from  their  use  the  writer  will  dwell  upon  them  at 
considerable  length. 

While  in  occasional  instances  puppies  are  seriously  dis- 
turbed and  even  destroyed  by  worms  before  they  have 
passed  the  third  week,  as  a  rule  these  dangerous  tenants  do 
not  give  positive  evidence  of  their  presence  until  after  the 
weaning,  which  seems  to  have  rather  an  exasperating  effect 
upon  them.  And  but  for  this  tendency  to  delay  to  make 
themselves  felt  the  mortality  from  them  must  be  infinitely 
greater  than  it  is  now,  for  puppies  previous  to  the  period 
stated  are  yet  feeble  and  poorly  able  to  withstand  the 
effects  of  simple  drugs,  much  less  those  of  depressing 
vermifuges. 

Nor  is  it  expedient  to  try  to  relieve  nursing  puppies  of 
worms  by  the  means  of  drugs  given  the  mother  and  sent 
out  to  them  through  her  milk.  Theoretically  this  plan 
seems  sound,  but  practically  it  is  a  failure.  As  a  matter 
of  fact,  while  some  medicines  enter  the  milk  the  number 
of  such  is  much  smaller  than  generally  supposed.  Again, 
the  proportional  quantities  of  those  that  appear  in  that 
secretion  are  very  much  less  than  accepted  ;  and  really 
only  the  most  powerful  drugs  acting  through  the  milk 
would  have  any  decided  effect  upon  the  nursing  off- 
spring. 

Take  turpentine,  for  instance,  that  is  readily  absorbed 
from  the  intestinal  canal  and  from  the  lungs.  But  it  is 
eliminated  by  the  breath  and  kidneys,  and  only  a  very  small 
proportion  of  it  enters  the  milk.     And  assuming  that  a 


INTESTINAL  PARASITES.  3^1 

nursing  mother  is  given  one-half  a  teaspoonful  of  this  oil 
twice  daily  for  several  days,  not  enough  of  it  would  reach 
the  puppies  to  have  any  anthelmintic  effect.  Further- 
more, to  give  even  this  dose  of  turpentine  and  repeat  each 
day  for  several  days  would  be  hazardous  with  most 
mothers  ;  and  certainly  doses  large  enough  to  furnish  the 
milk  with  the  quantity  necessary  to  destroy  worms  in  the 
puppies  would  likely  greatly  injure  the  parent  organism. 

Very  generally  it  is  between  the  fifth  and  seventh  weeks 
that  positive  symptoms  of  worms  first  appear.  And  duly 
recognizing  the  fact  that  the  liability  to  infection  is  great, 
also  that  a  large  proportion  of  puppies  suffer  from  the 
pests,  breeders  generally  hold  that  all  should  be  given 
worm  medicine  near  the  eighth  week,  whether  or  not  they 
present  suspicious  signs. 

Notwithstanding  that  the  liability  and  danger  are  all 
that  breeders  assume,  such  an  iron  rule  is  open  to  objec- 
tions. For  instance,  were  the  bitch  the  only  one  of  her 
kind  in  a  family,  or  had  she  no  more  than  one  or  two 
mates,  and  none  were  quartered  in  kennels,  but  all  had 
places  by  the  kitchen  fire,  and  there  the  whelping  had 
occurred  and  she  and  her  little  ones  had  been  kept  until 
the  weaning,  then  to  apply  this  rule  and  dose  for  worms 
in  the  absence  of  symptoms  would  scarcely  be  advisable, 
for  the  chances  are  many  that  under  such  happy,  cleanly 
conditions  the  puppies  would  not  be  infested,  or  if  they 
were  the  number  of  worms  would  be  too  small  to  do  great 
harm. 

But,  on  the  other  hand,  had  the  mother  several  mates, 
all  were  kept  in  kennels,  and  the  whelping  occurred  in 
quarters  which  had  been  frequented  by  other  dogs,  then  it 
would  be  far  too  much  to  expect  that  the  puppies  had 
escaped  infection,  and  the  rule  in  question  could  properly 
be  applied. 


322  KENNEL  SECRETS. 

Here  it  is  well  to  consider  briefly  the  various  estimates 
put  upon  the  danger  of  treatment  for  worms.  Some  hold 
that  judiciously  selected  and  wisely  applied,  such  treat- 
ment can  do  no  harm  if  it  fails  to  do  good.  Others,  how- 
ever, believe  it  to  be  somewhat  hazardous  with  young 
puppies,  no  matter  its  nature  or  how  carefully  adminis- 
tered. Those  who  hold  to  the  first  are  right  provided  the 
patients  have  passed  the  eighth  week ;  and  those  at  the 
other  extreme  are  also  right  if  the  little  ones  are  under 
this  age.  That  is,  all  who  dose  puppies  under  eight  weeks 
of  age  run  some  risk  of  killing  them,  but  with  older  pup- 
pies death  from  suitable  vermifuges  is  scarcely  likely  to 
occur. 

But  while  there  is  danger  in  dosing  puppies  that  are  not 
yet  two  months  old,  it  is  very  slight,  and  if  the  medicines 
are  wisely  chosen  and  given  in  proper  quantities,  it  is 
doubtful  if  there  is  any  beyond  that  of  intestinal  stoppage. 
Even  this  is  extremely  rare,  and  never  occurs  unless  the 
patient  is  harboring  an  immense  number  of  worms  ;  in 
which  case  the  parasites  are  suddenly  aroused  into  unusual 
activity  and  carried  rapidly  downward  by  the  action  of  the 
bowels,  until  before  the  outlet  is  reached  there  is  an  accu- 
mulation of  them  which  dams  up  the  passage. 

Now,  this  accident  will  scarcely  happen  except  in  very 
young  puppies  in  which  all  the  powers  are  low,  and  which 
are  only  capable  of  a  slight  expulsive  effort,  and  even  this 
is  lessened  by  the  pain  excited  by  the  unwonted  activity 
of  the  worms  when  the  medicine  first  reaches  them ; 
whereas  older  puppies,  having  much  greater  strength, 
would  under  such  conditions  expedite  the  removal  of 
the  worms  by  constant  straining,  and  so  prevent  their 
massing. 

Considering  these  simple  facts,  the  conclusion  is  justi- 
fied that  worm  medicines  should  not  be  given  to  puppies 


INTESTINAL  PARASITES.  323 

that  have  not  reached  the  eighth  week  unless  quite 
pronounced  symptoms  of  worms  have  been  manifested. 
Also,  that  instead  of  dosing  all  puppies  as  soon  as,  or 
shortly  after,  they  have  reached  this  age,  exceptions 
should  be  made  of  little  ones  born  of  house  pets  and 
kept  in  clean  quarters  ;  in  whom  evidences  of  worms  are 
never  likely  to  be  overlooked,  since  it  is  necessary  to 
renew  the  lining  of  their  basket  or  box  several  times 
daily,  and  mucous  discharges  or  worms  expelled  must  be 
at  once  noted. 

But  where  puppies  are  born  in  kennels  and  these  signs 
of  worms  are  not  likely  to  be  detected  promptly,  to  give 
a  vermifuge  soon  after  the  eighth  week  would  probably 
be  advisable ;  and  yet  he  whose  puppies  were  thriving 
well  and  free  from  all  signs  of  the  pests  would  often  be 
the  gainer  by  waiting  a  week  or  two  before  applying  the 
"worming  treatment." 

The  first  vermifuge  to  be  given  puppies  is  wormseed 
oil ;  and  this  failing,  santonin  should  be  tried. 

It  occurs  here  that  there  is  quite  prevalent  a  mistaken 
idea  about  santonin  which  it  will  be  well  to  uncover  before 
goins  further.  This  notion  is,  that  no  matter  how  san- 
tonin  is  given  —  whether  the  crystals  alone,  in  powders  or 
solutions  —  it  has  invariably  the  same  effect.  As  a  matter 
of  fact  this  drug  as  ordinarily  administered  is  dissolved  by 
the  gastric  juice;  and  the  solution  takes  place  so  rapidly 
that  even  large  doses  are  generallyabsorbed  in  the  stomach 
and  do  not  enter  the  intestines,  the  habitat  of  the  worms. 
Obviously,  therefore,  it  should  not  be  given  in  powder, 
for  much,  if  not  all,  of  it  would  be  taken  up  in  the  circula- 
tion, and  failing  to  reach  the  worms  —  turning  out  of  its 
course  as  it  were  to  avoid  th°m  —  its  vermicidal  effects 
would  be  largely,  if  not  entirely,  wasted.  Moreover,  by 
this  rapid  absorption  its  constitutional  and  poisonous  effect 


324  KENNEL  SECRETS. 

upon  the  patient  would  be  greatly  intensified.  And  here 
appears  the  reason  why  santonin  in  the  hands  of  some  is 
singularly  prone  to  cause  convulsions  in  puppies. 

In  order  to  reduce  to  the  utmost  the  liability  of  this 
accident,  also  that  the  santonin  may  reach  the  worms,  it 
must  be  administered  in  some  agent  which  will  practically 
float  it  through  the  stomach  and  keep  it  intact  until  it  gets 
into  the  intestines  where  the  worms  are  located.  Water 
certainly  will  not  serve  the  purpose,  for  it  has  been  shown 
by  experiments  that  santonin  crystals  floating  in  it  will 
not  affect  worms.  They  are  killed,  however,  when  brought 
in  contact  with  an  oily  solution  ;  and,  besides,  such  solu- 
tion is  not  absorbed  by  the  stomach. 

Consequently  this  drug  should  invariably  be  given  in  a 
fat  or  an  oil,  and  preferably  castor  oil ;  which  must  not, 
however,  be  in  too  large  quantity,  because  if  the  santonin 
is  rushed,  as  it  were,  too  quickly  through  the  intestinal 
canal  it  does  not  have  time  to  produce  the  desired  effect. 

Wormseed  oil,  which,  as  stated,  is  the  first  vermifuge 
to  be  given  young  puppies,  should  also  be  mixed  with  cas- 
tor oil ;  and  those  who  desire  to  use  it  should  show  the 
following  directions  to  their  druggist :  — 

Take  of  wormseed  oil,  sixteen  drops  ;  oil  of  turpentine, 
two  drops ;  oil  of  anise,  sixteen  drops ;  olive  oil,  three 
drachms  ;  castor  oil,  four  and  one-half  drachms. 

Put  into  a  two-ounce  bottle,  and  direct  to  warm 
slightly,  and  shake  well  before  using.  Also  label  —  Worm 
Medicine  No.  i. 

This  medicine  should  be  administered  early  in  the  morn- 
ing, on  an  empty  stomach ;  and  it  should  be  floated  on  a 
little  milk  —  a  quantity  about  equal  to  that  of  the  medi- 
cine will  be  sufficient. 

Assuming  that  the  puppy  to  be  treated  is  of  large  or 
medium-sized  variety  and  under  six  weeks  of  age,  the  ap- 


INTESTINAL  PARASITES.  2)2^ 

propriate  dose  of  No.  i  will  be  half  a  teaspoonful.  This 
should  be  put  into  a  dessert-spoon  which  contains  the 
milk,  and  the  whole  poured  down  his  throat. 

But  if  the  puppy  is  between  six  and  eight  weeks  of  age 
he  can  be  given  one  teaspoonful  of  this  medicine  in  one 
dose  ;  while  if  he  has  passed  the  eighth  week  the  treat- 
ment should  be  one  dose  of  one  teaspoonful  of  this  medi- 
cine and  another  like  dose  in  the  course  of  an  hour  or  an 
hour  and  a  half. 

As  some  might  assume  that  the  oil  of  turpentine  is 
introduced  into  this  mixture  and  its  associate  No.  2  for  its 
anthelmintic  effect,  the  explanation  is  made  here  that  it 
is  used  solely  for  the  purpose  of  quickening  the  move- 
ments of  the  intestine  and  improving  the  condition  of  its 
lining  membrane. 

This  Worm  Medicine  No.  i  contains  such  a  large  propor- 
tion of  castor  oil  in  many  instances  the  bowels  of  very 
young  puppies  taking  it  will  move  in  the  course  of  an  hour ; 
if  they  do  not,  however,  and  the  patients  are  under  eight 
weeks  of  age  and  they  are  to  have  but  one  dose  of  this 
medicine  as  advised,  then  to  the  average  puppy  a  teaspoon- 
ful of  castor  oil  —  in  about  a  like  quantity  of  milk  —  should 
be  given  at  the  expiration  of  an  hour  or  an  hour  and  a  half 
after  giving  the  worm  medicine. 

Where  the  patient  has  passed  the  eighth  week  and  this 
medicine  is  to  be  repeated  in  the  course  of  an  hour  or  an 
hour  and  a  half,  the  second  dose  is  likely  to  move  the 
bowels  if  the  first  fails  to  do  so.  If,  however,  they  have 
not  moved  in  the  course  of  an  hour  after  giving  the  last 
dose,  then  one  or  two  teaspoonfuls  of  castor  oil  should  be 
given. 

Worm  Medicine  No.  i  should  be  relied  upon  up  to  the 
eighth  week,  and  in  the  event  it  is  given  and  no  worms 
are  expelled,  and  yet  symptoms  of   the  pests  persist,  it 


326  KENNEL  SECRETS. 

should  be  repeated  in  the  course  of  a  day  or  two, 
the  doses  being  graduated  as  before. 

If  after  his  eighth  week  a  puppy  had  been  given  No.  i 
and  the  desired  effect  had  not  been  attained  —  that  is,  no 
worms  had  appeared  in  his  discharges  and  symptoms  of 
them  still  existed  at  the  end  of  the  second  day  after  this 
treatment  —  then  the  druggist  should  be  again  sought  and 
instructed  to  prepare  the  following  :  — 

Take  of  santonin,  four  grains;  wormseed  oil,  twenty 
drops ;  oil  of  turpentine,  three  drops  ;  oil  of  anise,  sixteen 
drops  ;  olive  oil,  two  drachms  ;  castor  oil,  five  and  one-half 
drachms. 

Put  into  a  two-ounce  bottle,  and  direct  to  warm  slightly, 
and  shake  well  for  a  minute  before  using.  Also  label  — 
Worm  Medicine  No.  2. 

This  mixture  should  be  given  like  the  first,  —  before 
breakfast,  —  and  unless  worms  have  passed  freely  during 
the  interval  it  should  be  followed  in  two  hours  by  another 
dose  containing  the  same  quantity,  the  puppy  meanwhile 
being  denied  food. 

And  if  the  bowels  do  not  move  within  four  hours  after 
th.&  first  dose,  one  or  two  teaspoonfuls  of  castor  oil  should 
be  given. 

If  under  the  use  of  Nos.  i  and  2  —  with  an  interval  of 
two  days  between  each  as  advised  —  worms  have  not 
been  expelled,  the  chances  are  that  if  the  puppy  is  between 
eight  and  ten  weeks  of  age  he  is  not  harboring  any,  and 
more  than  likely  his  symptoms  supposed  to  indicate  worms 
are  due  to  some  other  cause,  and  probably  indigestion. 
Yet  were  his  owner  not  satisfied  he  might  try  mixture 
No.  2  again  in  a  day  or  two. 

These  doses  of  mixtures  Nos.  i  and  2  are  appropriate 
for  all  puppies  except  small  breeds  and  toys  —  see  page 
333.     For  the  former  they   should   be  reduced  one-half; 


INTESTINAL  PARASITES.  Z-7 

while  the  latter  should  take  no  more  than  one-fourth  of 
the  quantities  advised.  And  the  doses  properly  adjusted 
they  should  be  administered  under  the  rules  laid  down  — 
that  is,  they  should  be  given  oxs  an  empty  stomach,  not  be 
repeated  unless  the  patients  are  eight  weeks  of  age,  nor 
should  No.  2  be  used  until  after  that  age  and  No.  i  ha& 
been  tried  and  found  wanting. 

Here  intrudes  another  delusion,  namely,  that  it  is  always 
necessary  carefully  to  graduate  doses  of  worm  medicines 
to  the  size  of  the  patients.  While  in  some  instances  varia- 
tions can  be  made  on  this  basis  with  perfect  propriety, 
great  ones  and  nicety  of  adjustment  are  not  invariably 
required  during  puppyhood,  for  no  very  marked  difference 
exists  between  the  alimentary  canal  of  a  puppy  of  medium- 
sized  variety  and  that  of  one  of  large  breed.  Certainly  it  i&- 
not  very  much  larger  in  one  case  than  in  the  other;  and 
assuredly  the  difference  in  capacity  counts  but  little. 
Moreover,  worm  medicines  are  intended  for  the  tenants, 
not  the  hosts,  consequently  unless  very  powerful  drugs  are- 
given  —  drugs  that  are  largely  absorbed  and  taken  into 
circulation  —  until  matured  a  setter  may  be  given  as  much 
as  a  St.  Bernard  of  the  same  age.  But  the  latter,  matur- 
ing later,  will  bear  increases  after  leaving  the  setter,  and 
until  he,  in  turn,  has  reached  maturity. 

Excluding  small  dogs,'  for  the  reason  that  many  of  thero 
are  of  notoriously  delicate  natures,  the  age  and  the  condi- 
tion of  strength  are  the  considerations  that  should  weigh 
most  when  estimating  doses  of  worm  medicine,  or  at  least 
medicines  of  the  nature  of  those  herein  recommended. 

Returning  to  Worm  Medicine  No.  i,  the  reader  is  again 
reminded  that  it  is  never  wise  to  give  medicine  of  any 
kind  to  very  young  puppies  unless  they  positively  require 
it;  also,  that  vermifuges  should  be  withheld  until  after 
the  eighth  week  unless  there  is  evidence  that  worms  are 


328  KENNEL  SECRETS. 

present.  But  should  such  evidence  be  offered,  then  the 
victims  should  be  treated  even  if  they  are  yet  nurs- 
ing. 

To  dose  puppies  that  are  only  three  or  four  weeks  old  is 
no  simple  matter,  for  they  do  not  swallow  what  is  given 
them  from  a  spoon  nearly  as  easily  as  when  drinking  well 
and  feeding  themselves  from  a  dish.  However,  if  puppies 
are  much  troubled  with  worms  at  this  early  age  there  is 
but  one  thing  to  do,  namely,  drive  out  the  tenants  even 
though  risks  are  incurred  in  doing  so,  for  in  many  instances 
.speedy  death  is  inevitable  unless  it  is  done.  And  the  signs 
which  justify  this  treatment  are  vomiting  of  worms,  con- 
vulsions, or  diarrhoea  with  mucous  discharges  of  reddish 
color,  the  same  being  attended  by  colic,  which  is  indicated 
by  moaning,  or  general  prostration. 

These  symptoms  appearing  in  a  puppy  of  large  or  me- 
dium-sized variety  and  between  three  and  four  weeks  old, 
one-half  a  teaspoonful  of  No.  i  should  be  given ;  and  fol- 
lowed by  three  drops  of  laudanum  in  a  teaspoonful  of  water, 
in  all  cases  of  convulsions  or  colic  —  but  in  none  other. 

If,  now,  at  the  end  of  an  hour  worms  have  not  begun  to 
pass,  another  half  teaspoonful  of  No.  i  should  be  adminis- 
tered; and  this  should  be  followed  in  an  hour  by  a  similar 
dose  of  laudanum  if  convulsions  or  pain  persist. 

But  if  worms  have  been  passed  during  the  first  hour  it 
will  not  be  advisable  to  repeat  No.  i.  The  laudanum, 
however,  should  be  given  in  three-drop  doses  every  two 
hours  until  the  convulsions  or  pain  have  subsided.  And 
this  dose  of  laudanum  is  appropriate  for  all  puppies  ex- 
cepting small  breeds  and  toys. 

This  worm  and  opiate  treatment  is  not  likely  to  do 
harm  if  it  fails  to  do  good.  And  now  comes  the  reason 
why  preference  is  given  to  wormseed  oil  for  use  in  earliest 
puppyhood.     It  is  destructive  to  worms,  less  so,  however, 


INTESTINAL  PARASITES.  329 

than  santonin,  and  at  the  same  time  it  is  non-irritating  and 
perfectly  safe  when  given  in  the  quantities  herein  advised. 
Beyond  this,  it  really  possesses  tonic  properties  that  are 
felt  especially  by  the  lining  membrane  of  the  intestine, 
which  fact  has  been  shown  in  many  cases  by  improvement 
in  the  diarrhoea  and  other  symptoms  attributed  to  worms 
when  those  symptoms  were  due,  not  to  worms,  but  to  other 
causes,  and  very  generally  to  indigestion.  Finally,  the 
writer  doubts  if  it  is  poisonous  even  in  very  large  doses, 
for  he  has  many  times  given,  without  injury,  four  tea- 
spoonfuls  of  No.  I,  and  repeated  the  doses  in  one  hour,  to 
pug  puppies  that  were  in  their  third  week;  while  to  the 
same  puppies  he  gave  one  drachm  doses  of  pure  wormseed 
oil  when  they  were  in  their  seventh  week,  and  the  only 
marked  effect  produced  was  constipation.  But  these  ex- 
periments were  for  the  purpose  of  locating  the  safety 
lines,  and  of  course  no  reader  would  be  justified  in  re- 
peating them.  Nor  would  it  be  necessary,  for  the  small 
doses  advised  act  quite  as  well  on  the  worms. 

As  already  intimated,  when  severe  symptoms  of  worms 
appear  in  a  puppy  about  the  third  week  the  chances  are 
many  that  death  will  result,  and  more  than  likely  be  due 
to  perforation  of  the  intestinal  walls,  failure  of  the  vital 
powers  induced  by  intestinal  inflammation,  obstruction  of 
nutrition  or  diarrhoea;  or  it  may  be  occasioned  by  pro- 
found impression  of  the  worms  upon  the  head  centre  of 
the  nervous  system,  the  same  being  exhibited  by  convul- 
sions. 

While  both  the  worm  medicines  advised  are  practically 
harmless  they  sometimes  cause  symptoms  with  which  the 
reader  should  be  familiar,  for  otherwise  he  might  be  made 
uneasy  by  them.  Slight  frothing  at  the  mouth,  evidently 
a  disposition  to  spit,  and  shaking  the  head  for  a  few  min- 
utes, are  induced  by  the  unpleasant  taste  of  the  drugs. 


330  KENNEL  SECRETS. 

Nausea  is  another  occasional  symptom ;  and  it  is  well  to 
add  that  it  is  generally  excited  in  young  puppies  by  all 
medicines  that  contain  considerable  quantities  of  castor 
oil ;  and  while  puppies  six  weeks  old  or  older  often  find 
relief  from  it  in  vomiting  it  rarely  occurs  at  an  earlier  age. 
For  a  time  the  little  patients  are  in  some  instances  more 
or  less  sluggish  or  as  many  are  wont  to  say,  "  dumpish  ; " 
they  are  then  disinclined  to  move  about  much  or  nurse, 
and  generally  soon  fall  asleep,  to  wake  up  in  the  course  of 
an  hour  as  bright  and  active  as  ever. 


(■^  »-^,./v«;.  /IV 


i<lW"'~^^ 


CHAPTER   IX. 


POTENT   WORM-DESTROYERS. 


After  puppies  have  passed  the  tenth  week  the  mildest 
of  the  medicines  advised,  mixture  No.  i,  can  be  laid  aside 
—  in  a  cool  place  if  it  is  to  be  kept  —  and  No.  2  used 
thereafter,  in  the  same  way  as  during  the  earlier  age. 

For  puppies  of  large  and  medium-sized  varieties,  the 
dose  of  No.  2  should  be  the  same  —  one  teaspoonful  —  up 
to  the  fourth  month,  when  iti»can  be  increased  one-half ; 
that  is,  one  teaspoonful  and  one-half  can  be  given  at  one 
dose.  From  the  fourth  month  this  dose  should  be  per- 
sisted in  until  the  seventh  month,  when  another  increase 
of  one-half  a  teaspoonful  can  be  made.  In  other  words, 
such  puppies  seven  months  old  can  take  two  teaspoonfuls 
of  No.  2  at  a  single  dose. 

At  the  tenth  month  another  increase  of  one-half  a  tea- 
spoonful will  be  allowable  with  No.  2 ;  and  this  made,  the 
dose  will  be  two  and  one-half  teaspoonfuls. 

Three  months  later,  or  at  the  thirteenth  month,  still  an- 
other increase  of  one-half  a  teaspoonful  can  be  made,  and 
this  will  bring  the  dose  up  to  three  teaspoonfuls,  which 
will  be  large  enough   for  all  mature  dogs  excepting  the 


332  KENNEL  SECRETS. 

largest  breeds,  for  which  there  should  be  one  more  such 
increase  after  the  eighteenth  month. 

For  puppies  of  small  but  not  toy  breeds  the  increase  in 
dose  of  No.  2  should  be  one-half  the  original  dose,  —  which 
was  recommended  to  be  one-half  a  teaspoonful,  —  and  this 
increase  can  be  made  every  three  months.  That  is,  at  the 
fourth  month  their  dose  would  be  three-fourths  of  a  tea- 
spoonful  ;  at  the  seventh  one  teaspoonful ;  at  the  tenth 
one  and  one-fourth  teaspoonfuls ;  and  after  the  thirteenth 
one  and  one-half  teaspoonfuls. 

For  toy  puppies,  as  Yorkshires,  the  same  methods 
should  be  employed  in  graduating  the  doses  of  No.  2. 
Starting  with  one-fourth  of  a  teaspoonful  as  the  original 
dose,  this  should  be  increased  one-half  every  three 
months,  or  by  about  seven  drops  each  time,  estimating 
a  teaspoon  to  hold  between  fifty  and  sixty  drops  of  the 
mixture. 

Let  the  reader  bear  in  mind  that  in  every  instance 
where  No.  2  is  used,  whether  with  large,  small  or  toy 
varieties,  and  notwithstanding  the  increase  in  the  dose, 
every  time  it  is  given  it  can  be  repeated  in  two  hours  if 
the  first  dose  has  not  had  a  very  decided  effect,  worms 
having  been  passed  during  the  interval. 

Mixture  No.  2  very  generally  proves  all-sufficient  during 
the  first  six  months,  and  not  infrequently  it  can  be  wholly 
relied  upon  not  only  until  maturity  is  reached,  but  for  a 
long  time  afterward ;  and  such  being  the  case  it  should  be 
persisted  in.  But  in  some  instances  along  about  the  fourth 
or  fifth  month  puppies  become  infested  with  worms  which 
yield  less  readily  to  santonin  than  to  some  other  vermi- 
fuge. And  when  such  cases  are  encountered  and  No.  2 
fails  to  expel  the  intruders  powdered  areca  nut  should  be 
tried. 

Areca  nut  is  a  product  of  an  East  India  tree  belonging 


ITALIAjV  «reyhottivds. 


«  SAPPHO. 


"  jrivo." 


BTiACK-AIVT>.T  XA    Ti:i{  I«l  i:i{*i. 


ipCSES^ 

rs.:3r"" 

—ascpw 

1 1  -  -S'^l 
1  ^^^K 

BP*'- 

L  ^H 

«tU 

H 

«•  bk<h».mfij:li>  m  i.taiv. 


■JtlFI-Al>0   LASS." 


TOYS. 


Tlie  Maltese  Terrier,  ••  IIiisli.' 


4'  «  n^i 

Tlie  Yorkshire  Terrier,  '•  Teti.' 


Th<-  .JiijiaiM-f  fspaiiiel.  ••  Aai»k-i-Poo." 
POMKRA]VIA]VS, 


Black   Itoy." 


ICob  of  Rozelle." 


POTENT  WORM-DESTROYERS.  333 

to  the  family  of  palms,  and  its  active  constituent  is  areco- 
line,  a  colorless  oily  fluid.  Arecolme  Jiydrobromatc,  a  salt 
of  this  alkaloid,  rQsemhXQS  pelletierine,  an  alkaloid  obtained 
from  the  root-bark  of  the  pomegranate,  and  is  a  local  irri- 
tant when  applied  to  mucous  membranes.  In  medium 
doses  it  produces  vomiting  and  diarrhoea,  while  small  doses 
slow  the  movements  of  the  heart,  render  respiration  diffi- 
cult and  have  a  paralyzing  action  on  the  brain. 

Some  who  have  discussed  areca  nut  in  public  print  have 
denounced  it  as  unsafe  and  poisonous,  while  others  have 
claimed  it  to  be  perfectly  safe  and  incapable  of  doing  any 
harm  whatsoever.  Both  sides  are  at  fault  on  this  ques- 
tion. For  puppies  four  or  five  months  of  age  and  up- 
wards, and  matured  dogs,  areca  nut  is  one  of  the  safest  of 
vermifuges,  but  puppies  much  under  this  age  do  not  always 
bear  it  well.  In  fact  the  writer  in  his  experiments  with  it 
has  killed  puppies  six  and  seven  weeks  old  by  only  mod- 
erate doses.  And  in  these  fatal  cases  evidently  the  drug 
produced  a  profound  impression  on  the  heart,  which  caused 
its  failure. 

More  than  likely  areca  nut  has  often  been  given  to  quite 
young  puppies  without  harmful  results  ;  still  the  danger 
line  can  scarcely  have  been  left  before  the  fourth  month, 
and  until  then  if  it  is  used  it  should  be  in  very  small  doses. 
But  once  this  doubtful  period  has  passed  there  will  be  no 
necessity  for  nice  adjustment  of  doses,  and  excepting 
where  the  puppies  to  be  treated  are  small  breeds  and 
toys,  the  health,  strength  and  age  are  considerations  of 
first  importance  in  estimating  them. 

A  distinction  has  been  made  between  small  breeds  and 
toys,  but  this  is  vague,  and  before  going  further  the  lines 
must  be  drawn  as  closely  as  possible  ;  but  instead  of  giv- 
ing a  list  of  the  varieties  included  in  these  classes  it  will 
be  as  well,  besides  favor  convenience,  to  fix  them  by  weight 


334  KENNEL  SECRETS. 

and  include  in  the  small  breed  class,  dogs,  of  both  sexes, 
that  when  full-grown  weigh  over  ten  pounds  but  not  much 
over  twenty  pounds  ;  and  put  all  others  weighing  less  than 
ten  pounds  when  matured  in  the  toy  class.  Of  course 
this  classification  is  far  from  exact,  but  still  it  will 
answer  every  purpose,  moreover  obviate  the  danger  of 
error. 

Powdered  areca  nut  can  safely  be  given  in  even  teaspoon- 
ful  doses  to  all  varieties  of  puppies,  from  the  largest  down 
to  small  breeds,  that  have  recently  passed  the  fourth  month, 
provided  always  the  patients  are  fairly  healthy  and  strong. 

For  puppies  of  small  breeds  of  about  this  age  the  dose 
should  be  one-half  a  teaspoonful. 

For  toy  puppies  of  like  age  the  dose  should  not  be 
over  one-fourth  of  a  teaspoonful. 

Strangely,  perhaps,  in  dealing  with  medicines  it  is  the 
trifles  over  which  people  are  most  likely  to  stumble ;  and 
it  being  assumed  that  some  may  not  know  how  to  measure 
an  even  teaspoonful  of  powder  the  following  advice  is 
given  :  Take  up  a  heaping  teaspoonful,  and  with  a  small 
card  or  knife  blade,  or  anything  else  that  has  a  straight 
edge,  sweep  off  all  the  powder  above  the  edges  of  the 
spoon.  This  done,  if  the  spoon  holds  powdered  areca  nut, 
the  quantity  left  in  it  will  weigh  about  sixteen  grains,  pro- 
vided the  spoon  is  of  the  old-fashioned  sort,  which  is  a 
little  smaller  than  the  make  of  to-day. 

At  about  the  eighth  month  the  dose  for  the  toys  can 
be  increased  to  about  one-half  a  teaspoonful  ;  and  that 
will  be  quite  enough  for  them  thereafter,  even  when 
matured. 

As  for  the  small  breeds,  they  will  bear  an  increase  of 
about  one-fourth  every  third  month  after  the  fourth  ;  that 
is,  starting  at  the  fourth  month  with  one-half  a  teaspoon- 
ful, about  the  seventh  month  the  appropriate  dose  will  be 


POTENT  WORM-DESTROYERS.  335 

three-fourths  of  a  teaspoonful ;  the  tenth  month  an  even 
teaspoonful ;  while  once  fully  matured  they  can  safely  be 
given  nearly  one  and  one-half  teaspoonfuls. 

For  all  puppies  of  varieties  of  medium  size,  as  collies, 
the  dose  of  areca  nut  should  be  increased  by  one-half  a 
teaspoonful  every  second  month  until  the  sixteenth  month 
is  passed ;  that  is,  commencing  with  one  teaspoonful 
after  the  fourth  month,  after  the  sixth  it  should  be 
one  and  one-half ;  the  eighth,  two  ;  the  tenth,  two  and 
one-half  ;  the  twelfth,  three  ;  the  fourteenth,  three  and 
one-half ;  the  sixteenth,  four ;  and  this  should  be  the 
dose  thereafter. 

The  reader  is  reminded  that  the  basis  of  these  estimates 
is  an  even  teaspoonful. 

In  adjusting  the  doses  of  areca  nut  for  the  largest  breeds, 
precisely  this  same  method  of  increase  should  be  employed ; 
that  is,  commencing  with  one  teaspoonful  after  the  fourth 
month  if  this  dose  is  increased  by  one-half  a  teaspoonful 
every  second  month,  in  the  sixteenth  it  will  be  the  same 
as  for  medium-size  breeds.  But  the  increase  should  be 
persisted  in,  and  in  the  same  ratio,  until  after  maturity, 
which  is  about  the  twenty-fourth  month.  In  other  words, 
the  dose  after  the  eighteenth  month  will  be  four  and 
one-half  teaspoonfuls ;  the  twentieth,  five ;  the  twenty- 
second,  five  and  one-half ;  and  the  twenty-fourth,  six. 

Doses  estimated  on  these  lines  are  only  of  moderate 
size,  yet,  as  a  rule,  they  are  quite  as  effectual  as  much 
larger  doses.  And  it  is  always  better  in  cases  of  worms 
to  resort  to  fairly  small  doses  and  repeat  than  give  a 
single  very  large  one. 

When  giving  powdered  areca  nut  to  quite  young  pup- 
pies the  best  vehicle  is  milk  ;  but  the  quantity  should  not 
be  over  a  tablespoonful,  for  force  must  be  used  in  adminis- 
tration. 


336  KENNEL  SECRETS. 

The  usual  form  in  which  it  is  given  to  puppies  that  have 
passed  the  sixth  month  and  to  mature  dogs  is  that  of  a 
bolus,  which  can  be  made  as  follows  :  Place  the  required 
quantity  of  powder  in  the  centre  of  a  plate ;  drop  on  it 
two  or  three  drops  of  molasses,  and  with  the  tip  of  a  table- 
knife  incorporate  the  whole,  meanwhile  adding  more 
molasses  as  required.  After  all  the  grains  of  the  powder 
adhere,  take  up  the  mass  on  the  end  of  the  knife  and  dip 
it  into  dry  wheat  flour.  Now  remove  it  with  the  fingers 
and  roll  it  into  a  ball ;  while  doing  so  it  will  be  neces- 
sary to  sprinkle  more  flour  over  it,  otherwise  it  will  stick 
to  the  fingers. 

In  administering  this  it  is  necessary  to  force  open  the 
patient's  mouth,  lift  his  nose  in  the  air,  drop  in  the  bolus 
and  with  the  forefinger  push  it  back  as  far  as  possible, 
then  quickly  bring  the  jaws  together  and  hold  them  tightly 
until  it  is  swallowed. 

But  when  the  subjects  will  gulp  small  pieces  of  meat 
the  most  convenient  way  of  giving  areca  nut  is  in  a  very 
thin  slice  of  beef,  folded  or  rolled  so  that  the  powder  is 
concealed.  And  this  should  be  tossed  to  the  patient,  so 
that  he  will  catch  and  bolt  it,  after  he  has  been  teased 
with  a  few  bits  of  meat. 

Where  the  required  quantity  of  areca  nut  is  consider- 
able, manifestly  it  would  be  advisable  to  give  it  in  divided 
doses  ;  that  is,  use  several  small  slices  of  beef  rather  than 
a  single  large  one. 

Its  active  constituent  being  a  volatile  oil,  areca  nut 
speedily  loses  its  value  as  a  vermifuge  after  it  has  been 
reduced  to  a  powder  and  exposed  to  the  air,  consequently 
the  nuts  should  be  invariably  purchased  and  powdered 
as  required.  This  powdering  can  be  done  at  home  by 
means  of  a  nutmeg  grater.  And  the  lightest-colored  nuts 
should  be  chosen,  for  they  are   of    more    recent    growth 


POTENT  WORM-DESTROYERS.  33/ 

than  the  dark-colored,  therefore  richer  in  the  essential 
properties. 

Along  about  the  eighth  month  —  but  it  maybe  much 
earlier  or  much  later — puppies  are  likely  to  become  in- 
fested with  tapeworms,  and  although  areca  nut  will  often- 
times expel  these  troublesome  tenants  there  are  other 
agents  that  are  more  destructive  to  them,  and  with  one  of 
these  the  reader  should  be  fortified. 

Of  the  anthelmintics  peculiarly  adapted  to  this  species 
of  worm,  male  fern  is  one  of  the  most  active ;  and  the 
form  and  combination  should  be  as  follows  :  — 

Oil  of  male  fern,  one-half  an  ounce ;  olive  oil,  one  and 
one-half  ounces. 

For  puppies  between  six  and  eight  months  old,  except- 
ing, again,  the  small  breeds  and  toys,  the  dose  of  this  mix- 
ture is  one  teaspoonful. 

For  the  small  breeds  an  appropriate  dose  is  one-half  a 
teaspoonful ;  while  one-fourth  of  a  teaspoonful  is  right  for 
the  toys. 

This  mixture,  like  all  others  containing  disagreeable  oils, 
should  be  floated  on  a  little  milk,  as  previously  advised 
with  worm  medicines  Nos.  i  and  2. 

For  all  varieties  of  medium  or  large  size  the  doses  of 
the  male  fern  mixture  should  be  increased  by  one-half 
when  the  second  year  has  been  entered ;  while  with  the 
largest  breeds  another  and  similar  increase  should  be  made 
at  the  beginning  of  the  third  year — or  in  other  words  they 
should  then  be  taking  two  teaspoonfuls  of  the  mixture. 

In  every  case  when  male  fern  fails  to  have  the  desired 
effect,  it  should  be  administered  again  after  an  interval  of 
a  week. 

Obviously  in  all  cases  where  worm  medicines,  of  what- 
ever kind,  are  given,  for  the  best  results  the  intestines 
should  be  comparatively  empty   that  the  drugs  may  be 


338  KENNEL  SECRETS. 

brought  in  more  thorough  contact  with  the  worms ;  conse- 
quently fasting  for  as  long  a  time  as  wise  and  safe  should 
be  the  rule.  But  in  cases  where  the  puppies  are  still 
nursing,  a  fast  of  two  or  three  hours  will  be  quite  sufficient ; 
and  if  such  little  ones  are  in  imminent  danger  there  need 
be  no  delay. 

For  puppies  under  five  months  of  age  oftentimes  a  fast 
of  a  night  will  be  long  enough ;  and  a  light  supper  of  milk 
having  been  given,  the  worm  treatment  can  be  adminis- 
tered before  breakfast.  But  where  a  tapeworm  is  the 
lodger  to  be  expelled,  about  a  week  of  preparatory  treat- 
ment is  advisable.  And  the  importance  of  this  appears 
in  the  following :  While  evacuations  of  many  of  the  seg- 
ments of  the  worm  are  easily  brought  about,  but  little  has 
been  really  accomplished  until  the  head  is  expelled,  for 
reproduction  is  steady  and  rapid  as  long  as  that  remains. 
This  portion  is  very  obstinate  indeed  in  its  adherence  to 
the  lining  of  the  intestine,  and  being  minute  in  size  it  is 
easily  shielded  from  the  action  of  the  worm  medicine  by 
the  tenacious  mucus,  which  is  always  secreted  in  excess 
when  a  tapeworm  is  present. 

It  is  essential,  therefore,  to  diminish  this  secretion  be- 
fore commencing  the  actual  treatment,  and  much  can  be 
done  in  this  direction  by  dietetic  means  alone.  To  the  de- 
sired end  for  about  one  week  the  diet  should  be  restricted 
to  raw  beef,  and  milk  or  broths  thickened  with  a  few  well- 
toasted  bread  crusts.  And  these  foods  should  be  limited 
in  quantity.  In  other  words  the  diet  should  be  of  the 
"starvation  sort,"  provided,  of  course,  it  can  be  safely  in- 
stituted, the  subject  being  fairly  strong  and  hardy. 

Under  this  restriction  in  diet  the  mucous  secretion  will 
have  greatly  lessened,  and  perhaps  sufficiently,  but  still 
those  who  can  spare  the  time  required  will  do  well  to  ad- 
minister during  the  dieting  the  following  mixture  :  Chlo- 


POTENT  WORM-DESTROYERS.  339 

ride  of  ammonium,  two  drachms;  fluid  extract  of  senna, 
six  drachms ;  water  sufficient  to  make  three  ounces.  Dose, 
one  teaspoonful  twice  daily,  in  a  little  water,  between  the 
feedings. 

This  dose  is  appropriate  for  all  breeds  excepting  the 
small  and  toy.  For  the  former  the  dose  should  be  one-half 
a  teaspoonful,  and  for  the  latter  one-fourth  of  a  tea- 
spoonful. 

The  week  of  preparation  having  ended,  the  night  before 
the  male  fern  is  to  be  administered,  and  four  or  five  hours 
after  the  patient  has  had  a  light  supper,  a  goodly  dose  of 
castor  oil  should  be  given.  Then,  the  bowels  having  been 
thoroughly  evacuated  and  the  tapeworm  uncovered,  as  it 
were,  the  destroyer  can  work  to  advantage. 

As  the  wormseed  oil  and  santonin  mixtures  —  Nos.  I 
and  2  —  contain  a  large  proportion  of  castor  oil,  a  cathartic 
will  not  always  be  required  after  them.  That  point,  how- 
ever, has  already  been  covered  in  their  discussion.  But 
the  other  vermifuges,  areca  nut  and  male  fern,  should  in- 
variably be  followed  in  an  hour  and  a  half,  or  two  hours,  by 
a  cathartic;  and  here  again  the  preference  should  be  given 
to  castor  oil,  and  the  dose  of  the  same  graduated  according; 
to  the  age  as  follows  :  — 

For  all  puppies  six  months  of  age,  excepting  small  breeds' 
and  toys,  it  should  be  one  tablespoonful.  For  the  S7nalt 
breeds  it  should  be  one-half  a  tablespoonful ;  and  for  toys, 
one  teaspoonful. 

After  this  age  and  up  to  the  twelfth  month  the  doses 
for  all  varieties  can  be  gradually  increased  until  they  are 
nearly  or  quite  doubled  ;  and  rarely  will  further  increase 
be  necessary  for  the  toys,  small  and  medium-sized  breeds, 
but  for  the  largest  dogs  three  tablespoonfuls  of  the  oil  is 
generally  required  for  very  decided  effect. 

Attention  is  again  called  to  the  fact  that  puppies  in- 


340  KENNEL  SECRETS. 

fested  with  worms  suffer  from  considerable  inflammation 
of  the  intestines ;  and  while  this  very  generally  subsides 
rapidly  after  the  noxious  tenants  have  been  driven  out,  it 
sometimes  persists  and  keeps  the  patient  ailing  for  a  week 
or  more  if  it  does  not  eventually  kill.  Therefore,  every- 
thing possible  should  be  done  to  favor  restoration  of  the 
affected  parts.  And  the  essential  treatment  is,  to  exclude 
all  farinaceous  substances  from  the  dietary  save  toasted 
bread,  and  allow  but  little  of  that  even,  and  rely  chiefly  on 
tnilk,  eggs  and  scraped  beef.  If  the  mucous  discharges 
have  been  large  it  will  be  well,  also,  while  restricting  the 
diet,  to  give  an  alkali  to  discourage  further  excessive  se- 
cretion of  mucus,  and  this  requirement  is  best  met  by  the 
bicarbonate  of  soda,  "a  pinch"  of  which  should  be  put 
into  the  milk  three  times  daily. 

Before  summarizing  and  leaving  this  subject  there  area 
few  crumbs  to  be  swept  up. 

Dogs  are  threatened  by  many  different  kinds  of  worms, 
and  while  some  of  the  pests  are  destroyed  by  a  certain 
vermifuge,  others  are  not  affected  by  it  or  by  any  other 
agent  excepting  their  own  peculiar  antidote,  as  it  were. 
Moreover,  far  oftener  than  otherwise  it  will  be  impossible 
for  the  owner  to  determine  excepting  by  treatment  the 
kind  of  worm  his  dog  is  harboring.  Now,  wormseed  oil, 
santonin,  areca  nut  and  male  fern  constitute  an  admirable 
battery,  and  when  one  member  of  it  is  resisted  some 
of  the  others  are  pretty  sure  to  prove  all-powerful ;  but 
acting  singly,  while  sweeping  out  their  own  enemies, 
they  must  in  many  instances  leave  others  behind,  hence 
it  will  often  be  necessary  to  unload  them  all  u'pon  the  in- 
truders. 

Such  occasions  as  this,  however,  seldom  present  them- 
selves in  the  first  year  of  life,  and  as  a  rule  one  member  of  the 
battery  does  the  work  for  all.     But  after  the  sixth  month, 


POTENT  WORM-DESTROYERS.  341 

should  a  case  be  encountered  in  which  the  symptoms  of 
worms  persist  after  one  of  the  vermifuges  recommended 
has  been  given,  then  it  will  be  advisable  to  administer  the 
others,  allowing  always  an  interval  of  a  week  between 
each.  As,  for  instance,  give  mixture  No.  2  the  first  week, 
areca  nut  the  second,  and  male  fern  the  third.  And  this 
course  pursued,  the  work  of  ejectment  ought  to  be  com- 
plete, each  agent  finding  its  own  special  victims. 

But  puppies  having  passed  the  first  year  and  acquired  a 
resistance  to  the  unpleasant  effects  of  such  drugs,  were 
it  necessary  the  entire  battery  could  be  turned  loose  at 
one  and  the  same  time  —  that  is,  if  in  any  instance  the 
symptoms  of  worms  did  not  disappear  after  each  one  of 
the  vermifuges  advised  had  been  used  in  turn  they  might 
all  be  given  together,  in  a  single  dose. 

Nor  is  it  likely  that  this  single  dose  would  do  any  harm 
were  it  made  up  of  full  doses  of  all  the  ingredients,  but  no 
risks  should  be  taken  with  a  good  dog,  therefore  it  would 
be  advisable  in  every  instance  to  give  in  the  combined 
dose  only  two-thirds  of  a  dose  of  each.  In  other  words,  it 
would  be  necessary  to  consider  the  age  of  the  dog  to  be 
treated  and  estimate  according  to  the  rules  already  laid 
down  the  quantities  of  areca  nut,  male  fern  and  mixture 
No.  2  suitable  for  him,  and  then  take  of  each  only  two- 
thirds. 

To  preclude  all  possibility  of  error  the  writer  will  go 
further  and  assume  that  the  reader  has  a  collie  about  four- 
teen months  old  which  presents  symptoms  of  worms  that 
have  resisted  all  the  mixtures  advised,  the  same  having 
been  given  singly,  and  he  now  desires  to  try  them  to- 
gether. Turning  back  to  the  different  preparations  it  is 
found  that  for  dogs  of  this  age  the  following  doses  were 
recommended :  — 

Of  No.  2,  two  doses  of  three  teaspoonfuls  each,  or  six 


342  «  KENNEL  SECRETS. 

teaspoonfuls  in  all ;  of  areca  nut,  three  and  one-half  tea- 
spoonfuls  ;  and  of  the  oil  of  male  fern  mixture,  one  and 
one-half  teaspoonfuls. 

Therefore  he  will  take  of  each  two-thirds  of  these  doses, 
or  of  No.  2,  four  teaspoonfuls,  areca  nut  a  trifle  over  two 
and  one-half  teaspoonfuls,  and  the  oil  of  male  fern  mixture 
one  teaspoonful. 

Now,  these  proportions  of  No.  2,  areca  nut  and  male 
fern  should  be  put  into  a  bottle,  together  with  about  two 
tablespoonfuls  of  warm  milk,  and  administered  as  soon  as 
they  are  as  well  mixed  as  possible  by  vigorous  shaking. 
And  this  dose  should  be  followed  in  the  course  of  an  hour 
or  an  hour  and  a  half  by  not  less  than  two  tablespoonfuls 
of  castor  oil. 

This,  which  can  properly  be  called  a  "  shot-gun  mix- 
ture," for  it  must  scatter  and  hit  the  mark  somewhere, 
should  never  be  given  excepting  to  dogs,  of  either  sex, 
that  are  very  vigorous  and  healthy  ;  and  to  such  it  is  never 
at  all  likely  to  do  any  harm  when  prepared  on  the  lines 
laid  down. 

As  for  adjusting  the  doses  for  thQ  small  breeds  and  toys, 
that  should  be  done  in  precisely  the  same  way  for  each 
class. 

In  works  treating  of  worms  and  anthelmintics  it  is 
generally  recommended  that  santonin  be  given  two  or 
three  times  daily  for  several  days  and  finally  followed  by 
a  cathartic.  The  writer  believes  that  this  method  of 
administration  is  open  to  objection,  especially  with 
very  young  puppies,  since  it  must  increase  the  liability  of 
poisoning  by  the  drug ;  hence  he  has  combined  it  with 
wormseed  oil ;  and  two  doses  of  this  mixture  he  has  found 
to  be  more  efficacious  than  several  doses  of  santonin  alone 
given  over  several  days.  However,  should  the  reader 
desire  to  give  mixture  No.  2  to  the  same  puppy  several 


POTENT  WORM-DESTROYERS.  343 

times  within  a  week,  he  can  do  so  safely  if  he  allows 
between  each  treatment  an  interval  of  a  day. 

The  influence  of  diet  upon  worms  has  been  considered 
with  the  subject  of  "Feeding,"  and  it  is  merely  necessary 
here  to  emphasize  the  fact  that  worms  are  greatly  favored 
when  the  stomach  and  bowels  are  kept  loaded  with  indi- 
gestible or  half-digested  food,  under  which  conditions  the 
parasites  grow  and  increase  in  number  far  more  rapidly 
than  under  a  happier  one.  Liquid  foods  are  also,  as  a 
rule,  friendly  to  the  pests,  whereas  solids  tend  to  dislodge 
and  sweep  them  from  the  body. 

As  to  the  prevention  of  worms,  beyond  the  measures 
already  defined  there  are  none  of  any  special  value.  Sour 
milk,  very  likely,  has  some  action  on  the  egg-shells  of 
worms,  and  it  may  be  able  to  penetrate  them  and  destroy 
their  contents  ;  or  it  may,  possibly,  soften  these  shells  so 
that  the  gastric  juice  can  reach  the  young  worms,  which 
it  is  thought  invariably  to  kill.  But,  as  far  as  puppies  are 
concerned,  worms  are  almost  always  intrenched  before 
this  food  can  properly  be  given  them. 

The  writer  once  thought  powdered  charcoal  had  some 
preventive  as  well  as  destructive  action,  but  long  expe- 
rience and  close  observation  have  since  taught  him  that  he 
greatly  over-estimated  its  effects  in  this  direction,  and  that 
if  it  has  any  such  action  it  is  but  slight,  and  an  appreciable 
effect  can  only  be  obtained  from  very  large  doses  ;  to  give 
which  to  puppies  is  impossible  except  by  force,  for  small 
quantities,  even,  mixed  with  their  food  often  cause  them 
to  refuse  it.  Consequently  he  now  discourages  the  use 
of  this  agent  as  practically  inert. 

Summarizing  briefly,  cleanliness  is  the  most  potent  pre- 
ventive of  worms.  In  the  absence  of  threatening  signs 
worm  medicines  should  be  withheld  until  after  the  eighth 
week  ;   but  in  the  event  any  such  signs  appear,  dosing 


344  KENNEL  SECRETS. 

should  be  promptly  resorted  to.  Mixture  No.  i  should  be 
relied  upon  until  the  eighth  week ;  then  if  it  fails,  No.  2 
should  be  tried,  and  depended  upon  afterward  as  long  as 
it  proves  efficacious  —  even  up  to  and  during  maturity. 
When  No.  2  is  found  wanting  areca  nut  should  be  used ; 
and  that  failing  in  turn,  the  male-fern  mixture  can  be 
called  into  service. 

A  combination  of  these  vermifuges  should  be  made  only 
when  singly  they  are  incapable  of  doing  the  work  ;  and 
after  the  twelfth  month,  previous  to  which  one  after 
another  may  be  given  if  necessary,  but  always  with  inter- 
vals of  several  days  between  each. 

Finally,  infection  is  always  in  lurk  in  kennels,  conse- 
quently it  is  advisable  under  such  conditions  to  give  pup- 
pies that  have  passed  the  tenth  week  a  dose  of  vermifuge 
occasionally,  until  after  the  eighth  month. 


INDEX. 


After-birth,  249. 

Appetite,  loss  of,  77,  180,  185. 

Apple-butter,  274. 

Areca  nut,  332. 

Arsenic,  152. 

Barley,  46. 

Barrenness  from  obesity,  227. 

Bedding,  89. 

"       during  whelping,  240, 
Beet-root,  37. 
Benzine,  127,  138. 
Blanketing,  168. 
Bone-meal,  237. 
Bones,  danger  in,  30. 

"       for  puppies,  60. 

"      value  of,  30. 
Bread,  Boston  brown,  41. 

"       Graham,  41. 

"       trimmings,  40,  42. 

"       white,  39. 
Breasts,  malformations  of,  273. 

"        treatment  when  caked,  265. 

"        treatment  when  sore,  274. 
Breeding,  197. 

"         in-and-in,  204. 
Broth  for  bitches  in  pup,  235. 

"      important  elements  in,  11. 
Brushes  for  grooming,  117. 
Buttermilk,  31,  162. 

Cabbages,  37,  62. 

Carbolic  acid  and  balsam,  183, 

"  "      the  crude,  134. 

Carbolic  soaps,  137. 
Carrot,  37. 
Castor-oil,  339. 
Chaining,  97. 
Cod-liver  oil,  60,  165,  168. 
Colic,  treatment  of,  289. 
Comtjs,  dangers  in,  118,  169. 
Condition  when  right,  79. 
Conditioning  for  shows,  147. 

"  the  coat,  166. 

Constipation  before  whelping,  241. 

"  vegetables  in,  37. 

Cooking,  effects  of,  on  meat,  22. 
Corn  cakes,  44. 
Com  meal,  cooking  of,  44. 

"       "      effects  of,  on  toys,  43,  71. 


Com  meal,  food  value  of,  42. 

"       "      proper  way  to  use,  43. 
Cracklings,  25. 
Crates,  177. 
Crown  soap,  173. 

Dandelion,  2,'- 

Deformities  obviated  by  feeding,  57. 

"  in  puppies,  293. 

Dew  claws,  302. 
Diarrhoea,  164. 

"  food  remedy  for,  62. 

"  from  worms,  317. 

Dietary  for  bitches  in  pup,  238, 
"       for  puppies,  49. 
"       general,  65. 
Diet,  far-reaching  effects  of,  16. 
"     first  after  weaning,  52. 
"     force  of  habit  on,  4. 
"     for  whelping  mothers,  255. 
"     general  remarks  on,  5. 
"     influence  of  exercise  on,  7,  ti. 
"     the  natural,  3. 
"     variability  of  effects  of,  13. 
Diet  table  for  conditioning,  156. 
"       "     for  mature  dogs,  71. 
"       "      for  puppies,  58. 
"       "      for  toys,  68,  159. 
Digestion,  peculiarities  of,  10. 
Disinfectants,  193. 
Distemper,  182. 

"  dangers  of,  at  shows,  145. 

Docking,  301. 
Dog  biscuits,  47. 
Dog  power,  149. 
Dog  shows,  143. 
Drinking  water,  109. 
Drugging,  dangers  in,  152. 

"  with  cathartics,  241. 

Earliest  puppyhood,  281. 
Eczema,  remedy  for,  183. 
Eggs,  31. 

Egg  shampoo,  172. 
Exercise,  93. 

"         amount  of,  required,  104. 

"         effects  of  excess  of,  106. 

"         consequences  of  denial  of,  95. 

"         during  gestation,  229. 

"        for  stud  dogs,  107, 


345 


340 


INDEX. 


Exercise,  preparatory,  for  shows,  148. 

"        under  confinement,  103, 149. 

"        while  at  shows,  187. 
Exercising  machine,  149. 
Exhibiting,  143. 

Feeding  bitches  in  pup,  235. 
"        in  hot  weather,  78. 
"         mature  dogs,  72. 
"        on  the  cars,  178. 
"         puppies,  49. 

"         when  out  of  condition,  155. 
"        while  at  shows,  185. 

**        when  overweight,  79. 
Fever  after  whelping,  258. 
Fish,  313. 
Fleas,  129. 

"      destroyers  of,  132. 

"      in  the  puppy  quarters,  287. 

"      measures  of  prevention  of,  131. 
Flies,  137. 
Flour  gruel,  62. 
Food,  influence  of,  on  hair,  159. 
Foods,  farinaceous,  39. 

"       garden  produce,  36. 

"       required  proportion  of  animal,  1 1. 

"        starchy,  35. 

"       that  must  be  cooked,  25. 

*'       vegetable,  35. 

"  ''        effects  of  excess,  20 

Foster-mothers,  266. 
Fumigation  by  sulphur,  90. 

Greens,  yj. 
Grooming,  1 16. 

"  brushes  required  in,  117. 

"  for  shows,  166. 

"  the  hand  rubbing,  169. 

Hair,  dressing,  123. 

"      growers,  1 59. 

"     hygiene  of  the,  166. 

"      loss  of,  124. 

"      restorers,  126. 

"     when  out  of  condition,  168, 
Handlers  at  shows,  179. 
Hand  rubbing,  169. 
Heat,  depressing  effects  of ,  78. 

"      required  for  puppies,  261,  282. 
Horse-flesh,  30. 
Hybridizing,  209. 
House-breaking,  305. 

Indian  corn,  42. 
Insect  powder,  133, 
Insects,  129. 
Iron,  153. 

Kennelling,  81. 

Kennels,  best  situation  for,  84. 
"        deodorizer  for,  92. 


Kennels  for  summer  quarters,  82. 

"        how  to  build,  85. 

"        hygiene  in  the,  89. 

"        removal  of  vermin  from,  90. 

"        requisites  in,  SS. 

"        small  out-of-door,  83. 

"        water  for,  1 11. 

"        without  floors,  86. 
Kerosene  oil  for  vermin,  138. 

Labor,  249. 

Laudanum,  289. 

Lice,  137. 

Lights,  26. 

Like  produce  like,  197. 

Lime,  precipitated  phosphate  of,  59,  237. 

Liver,  dangers  in,  26,  28. 

Male  fern,  337. 

Mange,  dangers  of,  in  shows,  146. 

Mating,  197. 

"       against  every  season,  225. 
"        against  too  early,  215. 
Maturity,  variable  periods  of,  218. 
Meat,  convenient  method  of  cooking,  74. 

"      effects  of,  on  toys,  9,  68,  162. 

"      effects  of,  on  disposition,  28. 

"      essential  proportions  of,  11. 

"      for  bitches  in  pup,  235. 

"      from  the  table,  23. 

"      habit  of  burying,  27. 

"      loss  of,  by  cooking,  23. 

"      modifications  in  requirements  of,  7. 

"      penalties  of  excess  of,  20. 

"      poisonous  when  tainted,  28 

"      preparations  of,  22. 

''      proportions  generally  required,  ii. 

"      raw,  during  gestation,  23. 

"      raw,  erroneous  notions  about,  27. 

"      raw,  precautions  in  use  of,  26,  29. 

"      raw,  parasites  in,  24. 

"      reputed  effect  on  nose,  27. 

"      right  proportions  for  puppies,  20. 
Milk  at  birth,  252. 

"     condensed,  270.   ■ 

"     delayed  secretion  of,  262. 

"     drying  up  of  the,  275. 

"     during  pregnancy,  234. 

"     effects  of  excess  of,  256. 

"     excessive  acidity  of  the,  278. 

"     fever,  264. 

"     for  puppies,  61,  63. 

"     for  toys,  67. 

"     influences  which  deteriorate  it,  289. 

"     poisoning  by  the  mother's,  275. 

"     poisons  generated  in,  293. 

"     skimmed,  31. 

"     sour,  31. 

"     value  of,  as  a  food,  30. 
Mother,  treatment  of  the,  243. 
Mutton,  163. 


INDEX. 


347 


Nettles,  37. 

Nursing,  impediments  to,  273. 

Oatmeal,  food  value  of,  44. 
Obesity,  cause  of,  20. 

"     in  brood  bitches,  227. 
CEstruation,  214. 
Onions,  38. 
Osteomalacia,  236. 
Over-eating,  results  of,  21. 
Over-feeding,  dangers  in,  79. 
Over-weighty,  to  reduce  the,  159,  162. 

Parasites  in  animal  foods,  24. 
Parsnips,  37. 
Pedigree,  value  of,  209. 
Permanganate  of  potassium,  92. 
Poison  for  destroying  puppies,  297. 

"       generated  in  foods,  78. 

<'       in  drinkmg  water,  no. 
Pork,  digestibility  of,  25. 
Potatoes,  36. 

Precipitated  phosphate  of  lime,  59,  237. 
Pregnancy,  signs  of,  231. 
Preparatory  work,  143. 
Puppies,  artificial  feeding  of,  262,  269. 

"        at  birth,  249. 

"        bones  for,  60. 

"        care  of  new-born,  260. 

"        cod-liver  oil  for,  60. 

"        crushed  by  the  mother,  245,  251. 

"        dangers  in  over-feeding,  55,  70. 

"        dangers  in  shows,  145. 

"        deformities  in,  295. 

"        diet  table  for,  58. 

"        effects  of  restraint  on,  98. 

"        feedmg  of,  49. 

"        general  rules  for  feeding,  70. 

"        heat  required  by,  261. 

"        importance  of  exercise  in,  57. 

"        infection  of,  by  worms,  315. 

"        infested  by  lice,  138. 

"        mortality  of,  189. 

"        number  of  meals  for,  53,  58. 

"        precautions  in  feeding,  53. 

"        preparation  of  vegetables  for,  62. 

"        prevention  of  deformities,  59,  70. 

"        quantity  of  food  required  by,  69. 

"        sleeping-boxes  for,  286. 

"        time  for  weaning,  50. 

"        to  keep  down  in  weight,  66. 

"        treatment   of,  when   suffocated, 

273- 

"        variety  in  diet  essential  for,  63. 

**        vermin  on,  287. 

"        water  for,  114. 

"        when  starving,  263. 

"        yards  for,  99. 
Puppy-eating  habit  253. 
Puppy  quarters,  hygiene  of  the,  285,  290. 


Quassia,  136. 
Quinine,  153. 

Rice,  food  value  of,  45. 

"     for  toys,  159. 
Rickets,  one  cause  of,  236. 
"        prevention  of,  59. 
Ring,  hints  while  in  the,  188. 
Rutting,  signs  of,  219. 
Rye,  46. 

Sales,  rules  governing,  296. 

Santonin,  323. 

Season,  214. 

Service,  222. 

Shaping,  215. 

Show  managements,  hints  for,  191. 

Shows,  journeying  to,  177. 

"       prevention  of  infection  at,  186. 
Sire,  influence  of  previous,  206. 

"    selection  of,  197. 
Skimmed  milk,  162. 
Skin,  importance  of  cleanliness,  116. 

"    when  out  of  condition,  168. 
Sleeping-benches,  87. 
Sleeping-boxes,  88. 
Soap,  carbolic  acid,  137. 

"    formula  for  the  best,  173. 
Soaps  of  ordinary  quality,  120. 
Soups,  digestibility  of,  22. 
Spinach,  37. 
Spoon-feeding,  32,  157. 
Starchy  foods,  39. 

"  "      digestibility  of,  46. 

"  "       in  puppyhood,  47. 

"  "      in  obesity,  228. 

Stud  dogs,  exercise  for,  107. 
Sulphur  fumigation,  90. 

Table  scraps,  23,  71. 
Tapeworm  destroyer,  337. 
Tea  sops,  163. 
Teething,  301. 
Toys,  corn  meal  on,  43. 

"      diet  for,  65,  68. 

"      effects  of  meat  on,  9. 

"      the  feeding  of,  159. 

"      washing  of,  172,  175. 
Training,  304. 
Tripe  for  toys,  68. 
Troublesome  insects,  129. 
Turnip,  37. 
Turpentine,  320. 
Tyrotoxicon,  293. 

Umbilical  cord,  249. 

Vegetables,  corrective  properties  of,  37. 
"  penalties  for  excess  of,  20. 

Ventilation,  importance  of,  290. 


348 


INDEX. 


Vermifuges,  319,  331. 

Vermin,  removal  from  kennels,  90. 

Watchers,  how  to  train,  312. 
Washing,  116. 

"         after  treatment,  122. 

"         general  rules  for,  119. 

"         methods  of,  121. 

"         toys,  172. 

"         with  raw  eggs,  120. 
Weaning  first  food  after,  52. 

"        right  method  of,  51. 

"        time  for,  52. 
Weeding  litters,  271. 
Wheat,  39. 
Whelping,  after  treatment,  252. 

"         before,  229. 

"         mania  during,  247. 


Whelping,  platform  for,  240. 

''  right  quarters  for,  239,  245. 

Whelping-room,  temperature  of  the,  24 9^ 
Whelping,  signs  of,  243. 
Whip,  the  use  of  the,  311. 
Wood-ticks,  138. 
Worm  destroyers,  319,  331. 
Worm-seed  oil,  320. 
Worms,  314. 

"        favored  by  foods,  61. 

"        foods  usually  containing,  25. 

"        prevention  before  whelping,  239^ 

Yards,  cleanliness  imperative  in,  103. 

"      for  mature  dogs,  100. 

"      for  puppies,  99. 
Yorkshires,  how  to  wash,  175.^ 


THE    AUTHORITY    ON    DOGS    IN    DISEASE 

KENNEL  DISEASES 

THEIR 

SYMPTOMS,     NATURE,     CAUSES    AND 
TREATMENT 

By  ASHMONT 

Author  of  "Kennel  Secrets" 
With  Illustrations.     Octavo.     424  pages.     Price,  $3.00  net. 

TABLE    OF     CONTENTS- 
PART    I. 


Chapter 


Chapter 


I. 

II. 

III. 


I. 
II. 


Section 


I. 

II. 

III. 

IV. 

V. 

VI. 

VII. 

VIII. 

IX. 

X. 

XI. 

XII. 

XIII. 

XIV. 

XV. 


THE  SICK  QJJARTERS. 

Practical  Hints  on  Nursing. 

Feeding  the  Sick. 

Medicines  and  their  Administration. 

PART    II, 

PRINCIPLES   OF   MEDICINE. 
Symptoms  of  Disease. 

Nature  of  Diseases.    Causes  of  Disease.  Diagnosis 
and  Prognosis. 

PART    III. 

THE  PRACTICE  OF  MEDICINE. 

Diseases  of  the  Respiratory  System. 

Diseases  of  the  Blood  and  Circulatory  System. 

Affections  of  the  Mouth  and  Tongue. 

Diseases  of  the  Digestive  System. 

Diseases  of  the  Urinary  and  Sexual  Organs. 

Diseases  of  the  Eye. 

Diseases  of  the  Ear. 

Diseases  of  the  Nervous  System. 

Affections  of  the  Bones  and  Joints. 

Surgical  Affections. 

Affections  of  the  Skin. 

Internal  Parasites. 

Constitutional  Diseases. 

External  Parasites. 

Symptoms  and  Treatment  of  Poisoning. 


INDEX. 


LITTLE,     BROW^N     AND     COMPANY.     PublisHors, 
254-    ^WASHINGTON    STRE.E.T.     BOSTON 


TYPICAL    OPINIONS    OF 

"KENNEL    DISEASES" 

"ASHHONT'S"  AUTHORITATIVE  BOOK    ON    DOGS    IN    DISEASE 

The  symptoms  of  the  various  complaints  are  described  in  detail,  so 
there  should  be  little  difficulty  in  diagnosing  ailments  with  Ashmont's 
"Kennel  Diseases"  at  hand,  while  full  treatment  is  explained  by  the 
talented  author. —  The   Dog,    Philadelphia. 

The  work  is  entirely  devoid  of  technical  terms,  and  is  written  in 
such  entertaining  style  that  any  one  with  a  love  of  dogs  would  find  it 
not  only  valuable  and  helpful,  but  interesting  as  well. — Sports  of  the 
Times,   New   York. 

It  is  a  grand  book,  for  the  novice  especially,  and  one  which 
the  most  expert  fanciers  should  possess.  *♦  Ashmont  "  is  at  his  best 
when  treating  of  this  subject. — Mati' s  Best   Friend,    New    York. 

The  great  beauty  of  all  of  "  Ashmont's  "  books,  from  the  ordi- 
nary dog  owner's  point  of  view,  has  always  been  that  the  reader  was 
not  compelled  to  pass  an  examination  in  Latin  and  medical  or  surgical 
phraseology  to  know  what  is  said  and  what  to  do. — Field  £if  Stream, 
New    Tork. 

"Ashmont"  is  an  eminent  American  authority  and  as  he  is  so 
thoroughly  well  up  in  his  subject,  and  treats  it  fully  in  language  that  can 
be  easily  comprehended  bv  the  least  scientific  among  us,  his  treatise  is 
a  welcome  one. — Stock-Keeper  ana  Farmer'' s  Chronicle^  London. 

Great  care  has  been  exercised  in  handling  the  ailments  to  give  the 
reader  the  clearest  information  possible  and  which  is  at  the  same  time 
simple,  and  in  the  matter  of  doses  the  seeker  after  knowledge  can 
scarcely  go  wrong.  We  do  not  doubt  that  in  a  short  while  this  book 
will  be  found  upon  every  kennel  shelf. — Field  ^  Fancy,  New    Tork. 

This  elegantly  gotten-up  volume  is  intended  to  popularize  medi- 
cine for  the  guidance  of  non-professional  dog  owners. — American 
Agriculturist,  New  York. 

Every  one  who  owns  a  dog  should  possess  this  invaluable  book, 
which  has  been  long  in  preparation  and  is  undoubtedly  far  ahead  of  any 
other  work  yet  attempted  upon  the  subject. — Field  ^  Farm,  Denver. 

LITTLE,     BROWN     &    CO.,     PUBLISHERS, 

254   WASHINGTON   STREET,   BOSTON. 


M 


ODERN  TRAINING 
AND    HANDLING 


By     B.    waters     (Kingrail) 


TV/fR.  WATERS  is  a  practical,  experienced  trainer  and 
handler,  and  a  most  pleasing,  logical  writer.  His 
experience  in  the  field  as  a  sportsman,  trainer,  and  also  as  a 
field  trial  judge,  handler  in,  and  reporter  of,  field  trials, 
enabled  him  to  write  the  best  treatise  on  the  subject  in  a  clear 
and  most  convincing  manner.  Some  typical  opinions  of  the 
book  follow : 

"  It  eclipses  anything  of  the  kind  I  have  ever  read." 
**It  gives  the  very  essence  of  the  art." 
*«  A  lover  of  dogs  should  not  be  without  it." 
"  Without  doubt  the  best  work  of  the  kind  ever  published." 
*'  It  leaves  no  point  uncovered  ;  all  is  made  clear  to  the  novice,  and  clearer 
to  many  of  us  professionals." 

*•  The  only  treatise  on  training  and  handling  worthy  of  the  name." 
"  The  best,  in  fact  the  only,  book  on  the  subject  of  training  that  is  worth 
reading.  It  will  be  worth  a  hundred  times  its  price  to  amateurs." 
**  I  cannot  refrain  from  expressing  my  deepest  admiration  at  the  masterly 
manner  in  which  so  difficult  a  subject  is  handled.  The  most  complicated 
points  of  a  dog's  education  are  explained  in  language  so  simple  and  expres- 
sive that  a  person  who  could  not  take  a  copy  of  the  work  and  train  a  dog  fit 
to  suit  the  queen's  taste  was  evidently  intended  to  fill  some  other  sphere  in 
life  where  the  lack  of  brains  would  be  the  strongest  recommendation." 


i2mo.       ;P2.oo    net.       SENT     POSTPAID    ON    RECEIPT    OF    PRICE    BY 

LITTLE,    BROWN    &   CO., 
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